Evaluation of nickel toxicity in a reconstructed human epidermis model

• Grant number: 22/07596-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler
• Grantee: Mariana Correa Giannella
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/04926-6 - Melanoma and chemoresistance: in vitro and in silico models to exploit therapeutic targets, AP.TEM

Abstract

Human exposure to nickel (Ni), including dermatological exposure, result from contact with objects containing this metal, occupational exposure and environmental pollution. Ni is considered a skin sensitizing metal and allergies induced by it are among the main causes of contact dermatitis in industrialized countries. It is well demonstrated that, under physiological conditions, Ni in metallic or oxidic form can ionize and diffuse through the skin. The ability of Ni ions to induce dermal reactions depends on their concentration, the area of skin exposed, and the duration of exposure. Ni oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) represent a new type of exposure because, due to their small size/high surface, they can release more Ni ions. It has already been shown that human skin is permeable to nanoparticulate Ni, whose use has been increasing. Considering that humans are daily exposed to Ni, that Ni exerts deleterious effects on the skin and that there is a paucity of studies evaluating the effects of NiONP on the reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), the study of its cutaneous toxicology is highly relevant. Thus, the objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of NiONP on an in vitro RHE model, assessing its morphology (histology with hematoxylin and eosin staining), viability (MTT assay), expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (concentrations of interleukin-1±) and of skin proteins (immunohistochemistry and western blotting).