Zinc induces chemokine and inflammatory cytokine release from human promonocytes.

Our previous studies found that zinc oxide (ZnO) particles induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein in vascular endothelial cells via NF-κB and that zinc ions dissolved from ZnO particles might play the major role in the process. This study aimed to determine if zinc ions could cause inflammatory responses in a human promonocytic leukemia cell line HL-CZ. Conditioned media from the zinc-treated HL-CZ cells induced ICAM-1 protein expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Zinc oxide particles induce inflammatory responses in vascular endothelial cells via NF-κB signaling.

This study investigated inflammatory effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) particles on vascular endothelial cells. The effects of 50 and 100-nm ZnO particles on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were characterized by assaying cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, and glutathione levels. A marked drop in survival rate was observed when ZnO concentration was increased to 45 μg/ml.