The applications of nanomaterials in consumer products and water treatment facilities increase the chance of human exposures to both nanoparticles (NPs) and environmental pollutants such as heavy metals. The impeding effects of NPs or NPs/heavy metal ions on susceptible populations are severely under-studied. Here, we demonstrate that silver NPs rather than Ag+ ions promote the progression of fatty liver disease from steatosis to steatohepatitis only in overweight mice. The silver NP-induced enhancement of hepatic inflammation and suppression of fatty acid oxidation are identified as key factors in the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ZnO NPs enhance the deposition of Pb in livers of overweight mice under ZnO NPs/Pb2+ co-exposure conditions, resulting in higher levels of hepatic reactive oxygen species, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and liver injury.

Susceptibility of overweight mice to Ag NPs or ZNPs/Pb2+ exposures

255th National Meeting (2018)

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