Potentiation of the herbicide glyphosate negative effect on the cytokine profile by zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Summary. Nanoparticles, due to their ability to penetrate biological barriers and facilitate the transport of chemical compounds into cells, can potentially increase their toxic effects.

The aim of the study – to evaluate the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the ability of glyphosate to change the cytokine profile of the blood of rats.

Materials and Methods. Experiments were conducted on 40 male rats, which were administered intragastrically daily with a suspension of ZnO nanoparticles at a dose of 100 mg/kg, a glyphosate solution at a dose of 250 mg/kg, or a suspension of ZnO nanoparticles in a glyphosate solution. On the 15th day of the experiment, the concentration of cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 in the blood serum of rats was measured by the enzyme immunoassay method.

Results. It was shown that ZnO nanoparticles did not result in the significant changes of the studied indices. A significant increase in the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was found in the blood serum of rats administered glyphosate. The cytokine profile changed most significantly in the blood serum of animals exposed to the combined effect of nanoparticles and glyphosate. In this case, the concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was significantly higher both compared to the group of animals that were injected with only nanoparticles, and with animals that were injected with glyphosate alone. In addition, the combined use of nanoparticles and glyphosate led to a significant decrease in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 compared to all studied groups.

Conclusions. Zinc oxide nanoparticles enhance the ability of the chemical toxicant glyphosate to increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.