Fine particles that adsorb lipopolysaccharide via bridging calcium cations may mimic bacterial pathogenicity towards cells

Fine particles (10²- to 10³-nm diameter) are potentially potent adjuvants in acquired immune responses but little is known about their interaction with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and impact upon innate immunity. Here we show that 200-nm-sized, food-grade titanium dioxide avidly binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with bridging calcium cations, and the complex induces marked proinflammatory signalling in primary human mononuclear phagocytes. In particular, caspase 1-dependent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion was induced at levels far greater than for the sum of the individual components, and without concomitant secretion of modulatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist or transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Secondly, the conjugate induced apoptotic-like cell death. These responses were inhibited by blockade of both phagocytosis and scavenger receptor uptake. Specific caspase 1-facilitated IL-1β secretion and apoptosis following phagocytosis are features of cellular responses to certain invasive, enteric pathogens, and hence induction of these events may be mimicked by fine particle-LPS conjugates. The inadvertent adsorption of PAMPs to ingested, inhaled, or "wear" fine particulate matter provides a further potential mechanism for the proinflammatory nature of fine particles.