Immune Response of Infected Lung Cells to Nanofluid Containing Carbon Nanotubes and Antibiotic

Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.p) is one of the pathogens causing hospital-acquired infections, which has been prioritized by the WHO due to its increased resistance to a variety of antibiotics. Cytokines are pro-inflammatory markers and their secretion in macrophages changes in pulmonary pneumoniae. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as novel approaches in drug delivery, despite their pros, may induce acute inflammation in animal lungs. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes and ciprofloxacin (f-MWCNTs+cip) combination on the immune responses, by cytokine assessment in the treated THP1-derived macrophages and the A549 cell line infected with resistant and ATCC 700,603 K.p strains.  Nanofluid containing f-MWCNTs were prepared using ultrasonic method. THP1 cells were differentiated to macrophages and were infected with resistant and ATCC 700,603 K.p. The infected THP1–derived macrophages and A549 cells were treated with f-MWCNT+cip. ELISA and real-time PCR assays were performed to assess the TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines in the THP1-derived macrophages and A549 cell line before and after the treatments. The level of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines after exposure to the f-MWCNT+ cip were upregulated significantly, in the resistant and ATCC K.p strains, from infected THP1–derived macrophages and the A549 cell line in comparison with control. Our findings showed that f-MWCNTs noticeably upregulated the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α genes in comparison with controls. Combination of f-MWCNTs+ciprofloxacin induced inflammatory response in both infected THP1-derived macrophages and A549 cell lines compared to the ciprofloxacin treatment.