The Pulmonary Inflammation Induced by Indium Oxide Nanoparticle Instillation Aggravates Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Recently, the use of Indium oxide nanoparticle and its compound has increased in electronic devices industry. Some clinical cases of lung disease caused by occupational indium oxide exposure have been reported. Atherosclerosis is chronic vascular inflammatory disease. Chronic inflammation is one of risk factor of atherosclerosis. Several studies have demonstrated that pulmonary inflammation caused by inhalation of nanoparticles can exacerbate atherosclerosis. Therefore, we investigated effect of pulmonary inflammation induced by indium oxide nanoparticles instillation on atherosclerosis. We instilled indium oxide nanoparticles to LDLR KO mouse once, and then induced atherosclerosis by feeding Western diet. After 10 weeks, we investigated indium oxide nanoparticles instillation results in the inflammation of lung. Nanoparticle Indium oxide nanoparticles instilled mice had changes in plasma lipid profile without difference in body weight between control and instillation group. Atherosclerosis progression in instilled group was more severe than vehicle control group. Our study shows strong positive correlation between atherosclerosis and pulmonary inflammation induced by indium oxide nanoparticles instillation.