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Table 3 Effects of particle shape on the ability of cultured phagocytes to process and release IL-1β

From: The complex cascade of cellular events governing inflammasome activation and IL-1β processing in response to inhaled particles

Shape

Chemical composition (doses)

Shape

Length/width (nm) (ratio)

IL-1β release

Identified mechanisms

Cell type

Reference

Titanium rutile (20–500 μg/ml)

Spicula

40/10 (4)

++

Actin-mediated endocytosis, lipid raft, lysosomal acidification and cathepsin B activity, oxidative stress

Macrophages

[87]

Spheric

30-40 (≈1)

+

Actin-mediated endocytosis, lipid raft, lysosomal acidification and cathepsin B activity, oxidative stress

  

Poly(ethylene oxide) (3–100 μg/ml)

Spherical with budding

N.r.

++

Actin-mediated endocytosis and cathepsin B activity

Macrophages

[88]

Spherical

N.r.

+

Actin-mediated endocytosis and Cathepsin B activity

  

Spherical

N.r.

-

N.r.

  

Gold (2–10 μg/ml)

Rod

40/10 (4)

+

N.a.

Macrophages

[164]

Spherical

40 (≈1)

-

N.a.

  

Cubic

40/40/40 (≈1)

-

N.a.

  

Carbon (2–100 μg/ml)

Needle-like MWCNT

13 000/>50(<260)

+

Cathepsin B activity, oxydative stress, src/syk pathway and P2X7R activity

Macrophages

[37]

Tangled MWCNT

10 000–50 000/8 – 15(667–6250)

-

N.r.

  

Short MWCNT

1000 - 10 000/0,5 - 20/(50–20000)

-

N.r.

  

Needle-like MWCNT

4150/150 (28)

+++

Actin-mediated endocytosis

Macrophages

[163]

Needle-like HTCFNW

7600/586 (13)

++

N.a.

  

Needle-like HTCFNW

1800/365 (5)

+

Actin-mediated endocytosis

  
  1. The smallest and fiber- or needle-like particles are particularly active to induce IL-1β release. Surface area properties and reactivity also govern inflammasome/IL-1β activation. Physical or chemical treatments aiming to reduce surface reactivity can control inflammogenicity of particles
  2. N.a. not assessed, N.r. not relevant