Effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on lunginjury and fibrosis in chickens
10.16303/j.cnki.1005-4545.2025.09.22
- VernacularTitle:银纳米颗粒(AgNPs)对鸡肺脏损伤及纤维化的影响
- Author:
Yangyong DONG
1
;
Xiaotong WANG
;
Zhaomei LIU
;
Ran WANG
;
Yuxuan ZHANG
;
Jingyi CHEN
;
Tongyao WANG
;
Wei WANG
;
Xiaoyan QIU
;
Xiong XIAO
Author Information
1. 西南大学动物医学院,重庆 400715
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
silver nanoparticles (AgNPs);
chickens;
lunginjury;
inflammation;
fibrosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science
2025;45(9):2008-2016
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)are employed as disinfectants due to their extensive antimi-crobial properties,but their biosafety in the livestock industry has not been comprehensively as-sessed.In this study,16 Black-skin Red-crowned chickens aged 32 weeks were randomly divided in-to four groups and sprayed with AgNP solution at the concentration of 0,0.064,0.128 or 0.256 g/L,respectively,every 72 h in their coops for 30 d.The effects of AgNPs as the disinfectant on lung tissue in chicken were investigated through calculation of organ coefficients,observation of lung tissue sections,analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,measurement of inflammatory factors,de-tection of silver residue in lung tissue,and exploration of signaling pathways in pulmonary fibrosis.The results indicated that chickens in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups showed the blurred pulmonary lobule boundaries,the destroyed alveolar structure,and the significant in-crease in pulmonary fibrosis.These pathological changes were accompanied by the decrease in lung organ coefficient,the reduced SP-C content,the increased total protein concentration in lavage flu-id,and the elevated LDH and silver content in lung tissue.The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups were significantly higher than the control group,which suggested that AgNPs exposure could induce the pulmonary inflammatory responses.High concentrations of AgNPs can trigger pulmonary tissue fibrosis,damaging the structure and func-tions of lungs.The relative mRNA expression levels of NF-κB in all AgNPs treatment groups,TGF-β in the 0.128 g/L AgNPs treatment group,and Smad3 in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups were significantly higher than these in the control group,respectively.Spraying chickens with 0.128 or 0.256 g/L AgNPs for disinfection led to pulmonary deposition of AgNPs,causing direct structural and functional damages to the lungs.It could also induce the chronic pul-monary inflammation through the NF-κB pathway and promote the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway to in-crease collagen synthesis,leading to pulmonary fibrosis.Therefore,the application of high concen-trations of AgNPs in livestock farming requires careful consideration of their potential biological safety issues.
