Effect of silicon dioxide enriched water during chronic ingestion of aluminum on functional characteristics of peritoneal macrophages

Abstract

© 2016 RAD Conference Proceedings. All rights reserved. Background: Silicon dioxide (SiO2) is an oligomineral found naturally in water, plants, and animals. One of the most important sources of this mineral is drinking water, where certain amount of dissolved amorphous silicon dioxide can be detected. Lack of SiO2 is associated with moderate disorders in the metabolism of bone tissue. Aluminum food intake enhances inflammation and the production of inflammatory cytokines. It is shown that silicon dioxide has an antagonistic effect with the aluminum in the body and may have a preventive role in numerous diseases. Therefore, the application of natural protectors that have the ability to reduce inflammatory responses and other harmful effects of aluminum are of special importance for contemporary nutrition. Aim: The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicon dioxide enriched water during chronic ingestion of aluminum on functional characteristics of peritoneal macrophages as one of the best-studied macrophage population. Materials and Methods: We used the model of chronic intoxication with aluminum for a period of 90 days by gavages with a solution of aluminum chloride in the form of aluminum salt dissolved in distilled water (1.6 mg/kg in 0.5 ml daily water intake). In total, 21 female Wistar Albino rats were divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 7 animals: chronically intoxicated with aluminum [non-treated (NT) and per os treated (T) with water enriched with silicon dioxide (20 mg/l)] and sham-intoxicated (S). PMF (LPS-or PMA-stimulated) were evaluated according to phagocytic activity and metabolic activity after 24h cultivation in vitro. The study also included evaluation of supernatant cytokine (TNF-α, soluble (s) ICAM-1) concentration in supernatants by ELISA method. Results: PMF from animals chronically intoxicated with aluminum (NT) showed lower metabolic viability/activity compared with PMF isolated from sham animals (S). Treatment of intoxicated animals with water enriched with SiO2 partially restored metabolic viability. T-PMF had higher metabolic viability compared to NT-PMF but still significantly lower than S-PMF. PMF of aluminum-intoxicated animals (NT-PMF) showed very low phagocytic activity, whereas SiO2 enriched water significantly up-regulated this activity. A daily intake of aluminum increased the release of TNF-α, while the SiO2 treatment reduced these levels. Up-regulated ICAM-1 shredding by T-PMF were followed by the production of TNF-α. Conclusion: Our study showed that treatment with water enriched with SiO2 in concentration of 20 mg/L partially normalized characteristic of PMF of animals intoxicated with aluminum. We can suggest that SiO2 could be a natural antidote of the aluminum and we may presume its possible beneficial role in decreasing the aluminum toxicity commonly present in water and food.