Neutrophil response to poly( N -vinylpyrrolidone) nanogel: changes in protein profile and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production

Abstract Upon arrival at the site of inflammation, neutrophils can unleash an arsenal of biotoxic agents, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antimicrobial proteins. Such a powerful response is essential to defense and survival but is also associated with host damage. Despite their pivotal role, little is known about the effects of synthetic particles on neutrophil responses. It is crucial to comprehend their impact on innate immunity, as nanoparticles can potentially emerge as either a risk factor or beneficial contributor by modulating inflammation. Here, we study the influence of 30 nm poly( N -vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) nanogels (NG) on human neutrophils through proteomic analysis. Neutrophils were isolated from human blood and incubated with NG. The proteomic analysis identified 65 proteins with differential abundance profile between the control and NG groups. NG caused upregulation of proteins associated with antioxidant activity, indicating the presence of ROS, which was confirmed by the nitroblue tetrazolium assay. Cytosolic granule proteins related to vesicle transport and actin-binding cytoskeleton proteins were down-regulated. Such changes in the proteome profile after NG incubation indicate neutrophil activation by modulation of classical functions such as ROS production and degranulation. These findings have implications for the use of NG as drug carriers and modulators of neutrophil functions.