Abstract
Aim: To study the effect of priming doses of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on proinflammatory cytokines in different organs of mice. Materials & methods: Mice were injected with a single or two doses (priming group) of GNPs (5, 20 and 50 nm) and sacrificed after 1 or 7 days. The mRNA expressions of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were determined in liver, kidney and spleen. Results: A single injection of 5 nm GNPs significantly increased the mRNA expressions of IL-1 beta and IL-6 in liver, which were normalized on day 7. In spleen, the GNPs of all sizes significantly increased IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA expressions on day 1 that persisted on day 7. The priming dose of GNPs protected the animals against the acute phase induction of IL-1 beta and IL-6 expressions in liver and spleen. Conclusion: Primed animals showed protection against GNP-induced acute immune activation suggesting the importance of the priming dose in nanomedicine.