A priming dose protects against gold nanoparticles-induced proinflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in mice.

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-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined in liver, kidney and spleen.

Results: A single injection of 5 nm GNPs significantly increased the mRNA expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 in liver, which were normalized on day 7. In spleen, the GNPs of all sizes significantly increased IL-1β 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-1β 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.