Diverse influences of androgen-disrupting chemicals on immune responses mounted by macrophages.

Androgen-disrupting chemicals (ADCs) can alter male sexual development. Although the effects of ADCs on hormone disruption have been studied, their influence on the immune response is not fully understood. To investigate the effects of ADCs on innate immunity, we tested eight candidate ADCs for their influence on macrophages by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production and cell viability.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes induce cell death and transcription of TNF-α in macrophages without affecting nitric oxide production.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are potent nanomaterials that have diverse shapes and features. The utilization of these molecules for drug delivery is being investigated; thus, it is important to determine whether they alter immune responses against pathogens. In this study, we show that macrophages treated with a mixture of lipopolysaccharide and SWCNTs produced normal levels of nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA.