Effects of carbon black to inflammation and oxidative DNA damages in mouse macrophages

Carbon black is classified as carcinogen group 2B by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). But it uncertained the effects of ultrafine carbon black particles on oxidative damage or inflammation. So we were focused to evaluate the oxidative damage or inflammation with ultrafine carbon black particles at gene expression level by using mouse macrophage cell line, and the co-effects with solvent coating to it. It was evaluated the changes of gene expression with real time RT-PCR, and oxidative DNA damage with Fragment Length Analysis with Restriction Enzyme (FLARE) assay in mouse macrophage (RAW264.7) cell line. Two kinds of carbon black induced the gene expression of cytokines related to acute inflammation, and with 0.1% methylcyclohexane coating were regulated conversely each other. The oxidative DNA damage with smaller size carbon black was increased than bigger one (the range with 500-30 nm). The 0.1% methylcyclohexane increased the damage by binding with each carbon black (the dose range with 100 ng/mL-100 mu g/mL). In this study, we got the conclusion that the genotoxicity of carbon blacks are elevated with its size get smaller and their surface area wider, and with methylcyclohexane coating. It could cause DNA damage by promoting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.