Прегледај по Аутор "Bekić, Marina"
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- СтавкаA Laser Synthesis Route to Boron-Doped Gold Nanoparticles Designed for X-Ray Radiotherapy and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Assisted by CT Imaging(Wiley, 2023) Scaramuzza, Stefano; de Faria, Clara M.G.; Coviello, Vito; Forrer, Daniel; Artiglia, Luca; Badocco, Denis; Pastore, Paolo; Ghigna, Paolo; Postuma, Ian; Cansolino, Laura; Ferrari, Cinzia; Bortolussi, Silva; Vago, Riccardo; Spinelli, Antonello E.; Bekić, Marina; Čolić, Miodrag; Amendola, VincenzoNew multifunctional theranostic vectors allow the expansion of cancer therapeutic approaches toward scarcely investigated fields. One example is the combination of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and X-ray radiotherapy (XRT) for treating normal and XRT-resistant hypoxic tumor regions and reduce recurrence. Of great relevance for BNCT is also the support of viable, rapid, safe, and reliable techniques for the localization and quantification of the radiosensitizers in the tissues. To address these challenges, polymer-coated Au-B nanoparticles (NPs) are obtained starting from a laser ablation in liquid process. Despite thermodynamic constraints, the two elements coexist by short-range boron segregation in the gold lattice, as demonstrated experimentally and explained with the support of density functional theory calculations. Thus, the Au-B NPs maintain a marked gold character such as biocompatibility, stability, and straightforward surface chemistry with thiolated compounds, desirable for the integration with agents capable of cell targeting and internalization. Overall, the Au-B NPs exhibit the appropriate features for the investigation of combined BNCT and XRT, supported by the localization and quantification with X-ray computed tomography imaging. Besides, the Au-B nanotechnology tool is achievable without renouncing to reproducibility, environmental sustainability, and cost affordability thanks to the laser-assisted synthetic pathway.
- СтавкаAnti-inflammatory effect of amalgam on periapical lesion cells in culture(Ministry of Defance, Serbia, 2021) Eraković, Mile; Duka, Miloš; Bekić, Marina; Milanović, Marijana; Tomić, Sergej; Vučević, Dragana; Čolić, MiodragBackground/Aim. Amalgam h as b een u sed f or y ears in dentistry, but the controversy on its adverse effects, both on local oral/dental tissues and systemic health, still exists. When used for retrograde filling in apical surgery, amalgam comes in close contact with the periapical tissue, and it is sometimes responsible for the induction of periapical lesion (PL) or its exacerbation. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the effect of amalgam on cytotoxicity and production of pro-inflammatory cytokine by cells isolated from PL. Methods. Conditioned medium from freshly prepared amalgam (ACM) was performed according to the ISO 10993-12 by incubating the alloy in RPMI medium (0.2 g/mL) for 3 days at 37°C. Cells were isolated from 20 human PLs after apicoectomy by collagenase/DNA-ase digestion and cultured with different dilutions of ACM. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay (n = 7 cultures) and apoptosis/necrosis assays (n = 8 cultures), whereas cytokine production was measured by a Flow Cytomix Microbeads Assay (n = 8 cultures). Results. Undiluted (100%) and 75% ACM was cytotoxic due to induction of apoptosis of PL cells. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of ACM (50% and 25%) inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8), concentrationdependently. Conclusion. For t he f irst t ime, o ur results showed an unexpected anti-inflammatory property of amalgam on PL cells, which could be beneficial for PL healing after apicoectomy
- СтавкаDysfunctions of Neutrophils in the Peripheral Blood of Children with Cystic Fibrosis(MDPI, 2023) Bakalović, Ganimeta; Bokonjić, Dejan; Mihajlović, Dušan; Čolić, Miodrag; Mališ, Vanja; Drakul, Marija; Tomić, Sergej; Jojić, Ivan; Rakočević, Sara; Popović, Darinka; Kozić, Ljiljana; Vasiljević, Miloš; Bekić, Marina; Mašić, Srđan; Ljuboja, OliveraDysfunction of neutrophils in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is best characterized in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), whereas peripheral blood neutrophils are less examined, and the results are contradictory, especially in younger populations. Therefore, this work aimed to study functional and phenotypic changes in circulating neutrophils in children with CF. The study included 19 CF children (5–17 years) and 14 corresponding age-matched healthy children. Isolated neutrophils were cultured either alone or with different stimuli. Several functions were studied: apoptosis, NET-osis, phagocytosis, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neutrophil elastase (NE), and 11 cytokines. In addition, the expression of 20 molecules involved in different functions of neutrophils was evaluated by using flow cytometry. CF neutrophils showed reduced apoptosis and lower production of NE and IL-18 compared to the healthy controls, whereas IL-8 was augmented. All of these functions were further potentiated after neutrophil stimulation, which included higher ROS production and the up-regulation of CD11b and IL-10 expression. NET-osis was higher only when neutrophils from moderate–severe CF were treated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the process correlated with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1). Phagocytosis was not significantly changed. In conclusion, circulating neutrophils from children with CF showed fewer impaired changes in phenotype than in function. Functional abnormalities, which were already present at the baseline levels in neutrophils, depended on the type of stimuli that mimicked different activation states of these cells at the site of infection.
- СтавкаFunctionalization-dependent effects of cellulose nanofibrils on tolerogenic mechanisms of human dendritic cells(Dove Medical Press, 2018) Tomić, Sergej; Ilić, Nataša; Kokol, Vanja; Gruden-Movsesijan, Alisa; Mihajlović, Dušan; Bekić, Marina; Sofronić-Milosavljević, Ljiljana; Čolić, Miodrag; Vučević, DraganaBackground: Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are attractive nanomaterials for various biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and biomimetic properties. However, their immunoregulatory properties are insufficiently investigated, especially in relation to their functionalization, which could cause problems during their clinical application. Methods: Using a model of human dendritic cells (DC), which have a central role in the regulation of immune response, we investigated how differentially functionalized CNF, ie, native (n) CNF, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl radical-oxidized (c) CNF, and 3-aminopropylphosphoric acid-functionalized (APAc) CNF, affect DC properties, their viability, morphology, differentiation and maturation potential, and the capacity to regulate T cell-mediated immune response. Results: Nontoxic doses of APAcCNF displayed the strongest inhibitory effects on DC differentiation, maturation, and T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 polarization capacity, followed by cCNF and nCNF, respectively. These results correlated with a specific pattern of regulatory cytokines production by APAcCNF-DC and their increased capacity to induce suppressive CD8+CD25+IL-10+ regulatory T cells in immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT)-3- and ILT-4-dependent manner. In contrast, nCNF-DC induced predominantly suppressive CD4+CD25hiFoxP3hi regulatory T cells in indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1-dependent manner. Different tolerogenic properties of CNF correlated with their size and APA functionalization, as well as with different expression of CD209 and actin bundles at the place of contact with CNF. Conclusion: The capacity to induce different types of DC-mediated tolerogenic immune responses by functionalized CNF opens new perspectives for their application as well-tolerated nanomaterials in tissue engineering and novel platforms for the therapy of inflammatory T cell-mediated pathologies.
- СтавкаImmunological aspects of nanocellulose(Elsevier, 2020) Čolić, Miodrag; Tomić, Sergej; Bekić, MarinaCellulose is the most abundant natural polymer in the world. Nanoscale forms of cellulose, including cellulose nanofibers (CNF), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and bacterial nanocellulose (BC), are very attractive in industry, medicine and pharmacy. Biomedical applications of nanocellulose in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and controlled drug delivery are the most promising. Nanocellulose is considered a biocompatible nanomaterial and relatively safe for biomedical applications. However, more studies are needed to prove this hypothesis, especially those related to chronic exposure to nanocellulose. Besides toxicity, the response of the immune system is of particular importance in this sense. This paper provides a comprehensive and critical review of the current-state knowledge of the impact of nanocellulose on the immune system, especially on macrophages and dendritic cells (DC), as the central immunoregulatory cells, which has not been addressed in the literature sufficiently. Nanocellulose, especially CNC, can induce the inflammatory response upon the internalization by macrophages, but this reaction may be significantly modulated by introducing different functional groups on their surface. Our original results showed that nanocellulose has a potent immunotolerogenic potential. Native CNF potentiated the capacity of DC to induce conventional Tregs. When carboxyl groups were introduced on the CNF surface, the tolerogenic potential of DC was shifted towards the induction of regulatory CD8+ T cells, whereas the introduction of phosphonates on CNF surface potentiated DCs’ capacity to induce both regulatory CD8+ T cells and Type 1 regulatory (Tr-1) cells. These results are extremely important when considering the application of nanocellulose in vivo, especially for tissue regeneration and wound healing.
- СтавкаImmunomodulatory Properties of Pomegranate Peel Extract in a Model of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Culture(MDPI, 2022) Čolić, Miodrag; Bekić, Marina; Tomić, Sergej; Đokić, Jelena; Radojević, Dušan; Ševikin, Katarina; Miljuš, Nataša; Marković, Milan; Škrbić, RankoPomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effect on the adaptive immune system has not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, the treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with PoPEx (range 6.25–400 g/mL) resulted in cytotoxicity at concentrations of 100 g/mL and higher, due to the induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress, whereas autophagy was reduced. At non-cytotoxic concentrations, the opposite effect on these processes was observed simultaneously with the inhibition of PHA-induced PBMC proliferation and a significant decrease in the expression of CD4. PoPEx differently modulated the expression of activation markers (CD69, CD25, ICOS) and PD1 (inhibitory marker), depending on the dose and T-cell subsets. PoPEx (starting from 12.5 g/mL) suppressed the production of Th1 (IFN-), Th17 (IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22), Th9 (IL-9), and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF- and IL-6) in culture supernatants. Lower concentrations upregulated Th2 (IL-5 and IL-13) and Treg (IL-10) responses as well as CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ cell frequency. Higher concentrations of PoPEx increased the frequency of IL-10- and TGF- -producing T-cells (much higher in the CD4+ subset). In conclusion, our study suggested for the first time complex immunoregulatory effects of PoPEx on T cells, which could assist in the suppression of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
- СтавкаMesenchymal Stromal Cells from Healthy and Inflamed Human Gingiva Respond Differently to Porphyromonas gingivalis(MDPI, 2022) Bekić, Marina; Radanović, Marina; Đokić, Jelena; Tomić, Sergej; Eraković, Mile; Radojević, Dušan; Duka, Miloš; Marković, Dejan; Marković Milan; Ismaili, Bashkim; Bokonjić, Dejan; Čolić, MiodragGingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (GMSCs) have been shown to play an important role in periodontitis. However, how P. gingivalis, one of the key etiological agents of the disease, affects healthy (H)- and periodontitis (P)-GMSCs is unknown. To address this problem, we established 10 H-GMSC and 12 P-GMSC lines. No significant differences in morphology, differentiation into chondroblasts and adipocytes, expression of characteristic MSCS markers, including pericyte antigens NG2 and PDGFR, were observed between H- and P-GMSC lines. However, proliferation, cell size and osteogenic potential were higher in P-GMSCs, in contrast to their lower ability to suppress mononuclear cell proliferation. P. gingivalis up-regulated the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, GRO- , RANTES, TLR-2, HIF-1 , OPG, MMP-3, SDF-1, HGF and IP-10 in P-GMSCs, whereas only IL-6, MCP-1 and GRO- were up-regulated in H-GMSCs. The expression of MCP-1, RANTES, IP-10 and HGF was significantly higher in P-GMSCs compared to H-GMSCs, but IDO1 was lower. No significant changes in the expression of TLR-3, TLR-4, TGF- , LAP, IGFBP4 and TIMP-1 were observed in both types of GMSCs. In conclusion, our results suggest that P-GMSCs retain their pro-inflammatory properties in culture, exhibit lower immunosuppressive potential than their healthy counterparts, and impaired regeneration-associated gene induction in culture. All these functions are potentiated significantly by P. gingivalis treatment.
- СтавкаPhosphonate-Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals Potentiate the Th1 Polarising Capacity of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells via GABA-B Receptor(Dove Medical Press, 2022) Bekić, Marina; Vasiljević, Miloš; Stojanović, Dušica; Kokol, Vanja; Mihajlović, Dušan; Vučević, Dragana; Uskoković, Petar; Čolić, Miodrag; Tomić, SergejPurpose: Phosphonates, like 3-AminoPropylphosphonic Acid (ApA), possess a great potential for the therapy of bone tumours, and their delivery via cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) seems a promising approach for their increased efficacy in target tissues. However, the immunological effects of CNC-phosphonates have not been investigated thoroughly. The main aim was to examine how the modification of CNCs with phosphonate affects their immunomodulatory properties in human cells. Methods: Wood-based native (n) CNCs were modified via oxidation (ox-CNCs) and subsequent conjugation with ApA (ApA-CNCs). CNCs were characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoindentation. Cytotoxicity and immunomodulatory potential of CNCs were investigated in cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs)/T cells co-cultures by monitoring phenotype, cytokines production, allostimulatory and Th/Treg polarisation capacity. Results: AFM showed an increase in CNCs' thickens, elasticity modulus and hardness during the modification with ApA. When applied at non-toxic doses, nCNCs showed a tolerogenic potential upon internalisation by MoDCs, as judged by their increased capacity to up-regulate tolerogenic markers and induce regulatory T cells (Treg), especially when present during the differentiation of MoDCs. In contrast, ox- and ApA-CNCs induced oxidative stress and autophagy in MoDCs, which correlated with their stimulatory effect on the maturation of MoDCs, but also inhibition of MoDCs differentiation. ApA-CNC-treated MoDCs displayed the highest allostimulatory and Th1/CTL polarising activity in co-cultures with T cells. These effects of ApA-CNCs were mediated via GABA-B receptor-induced lowering of cAMP levels in MoDCs, and they could be blocked by GABA-B receptor inhibitor. Moreover, the Th1 polarising and allostimulatory capacity of MoDCs differentiated with ApA-CNC were largely preserved upon the maturation of MoDCs, whereas nCNC- and ox-CNC-differentiated MoDCs displayed an increased tolerogenic potential. Conclusion: The delivery of ApA via CNCs induces potent DC-mediated Th1 polarisation, which could be beneficial in their potential application in tumour therapy.
- СтавкаPlasma-Activated Medium Potentiates the Immunogenicity of Tumor Cell Lysates for Dendritic Cell-Based Cancer Vaccines(MDPI, 2021) Tomić, Sergej; Petrović, Anđelija; Puač, Nevena; Škoro, Nikola; Bekić, Marina; Petrović, Zoran Lj.; Čolić, MiodragAutologous dendritic cells (DCs)-based vaccines are considered quite promising for cancer immunotherapy due to their exquisite potential to induce tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells. However, a lack of efficient protocols for inducing immunogenic tumor antigens limits the efficacy of DC-based cancer vaccines. Here, we found that a plasma-activated medium (PAM) induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells but not in an immortalized L929 cell line or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. PAM induced an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis in a concentration-dependent manner. The tumor lysates prepared after PAM treatment displayed increased immunogenicity in a model of DCs, compared to the lysates prepared by a standard freezing/thawing method. Mature DCs loaded with PAM lysates showed an increased maturation potential, as estimated by their increased expression of CD83, CD86, CD40, IL-12/IL-10 production, and attenuated PDL1 and ILT-4 expression, compared to the DCs treated with control tumor lysates. Moreover, in co-culture with allogeneic T cells, DCs loaded with PAM-lysates increased the proportion of cytotoxic IFN- + granzyme A+CD8+ T cells and IL-17A-producing T cells and preserved the Th1 response. In contrast, control tumor lysates-treated DCs increased the frequency of Th2 (CD4+IL-4+), CD4, and CD8 regulatory T cell subtypes, none of which was observed with DCs loaded with PAM-lysates. Cumulatively, these results suggest that the novel method for preparing immunogenic tumor lysates with PAM could be suitable for improved DC-based immunotherapy of cancer patients
- СтавкаPomegranate Peel Extract Differently Modulates Gene Expression in Gingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells under Physiological and Inflammatory Conditions(MDPI, 2023) Čolić, Miodrag; Miljuš, Nataša; Ðokić, Jelena; Bekić, Marina; Krivokuća, Aleksandra; Tomić, Sergej; Radojević, Dušan; Radanović, Marina; Eraković, Mile; Ismaili, Bashkim; Škrbić, RankoPomegranate has shown a favorable effect on gingivitis/periodontitis, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to test the effect of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) on gingiva-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (GMSCs) under physiological and inflammatory conditions. GMSC lines from healthy (H) and periodontitis (P) gingiva (n = 3 of each) were established. The lines were treated with two non-toxic concentrations of PoPEX (low—10; high—40 g/mL), with or without additional lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Twenty-four genes in GMSCs involved in different functions were examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PoPEx (mostly at higher concentrations) inhibited the basal expression of IL-6, MCP-1, GRO-a, RANTES, IP-10, HIF-1a, SDF-1, and HGF but increased the expression of IL-8, TLR3, TGF-b, TGF-b/LAP ratio, IDO-1, and IGFB4 genes in H-GMSCs. PoPEx increased IL-6, RANTES, MMP3, and BMP2 but inhibited TLR2 and GRO-a gene expression in P-GMSCs. LPS upregulated genes for proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, tissue regeneration/repair (MMP3, IGFBP4, HGF), and immunomodulation (IP-10, RANTES, IDO-1, TLR3, COX-2), more strongly in P-GMSCs. PoPEx also potentiated most genes’ expression in LPS-stimulated P-GMSCs, including upregulation of osteoblastic genes (RUNX2, BMP2, COL1A1, and OPG), simultaneously inhibiting cell proliferation. In conclusion, the modulatory effects of PoPEx on gene expression in GMSCs are complex and dependent on applied concentrations, GMSC type, and LPS stimulation. Generally, the effect is more pronounced in inflammation-simulating conditions.
- СтавкаProstaglanin-E2 Potentiates the Suppressive Functions of Human Mononuclear Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Increases Their Capacity to Expand IL-10-Producing Regulatory T Cell Subsets(Frontiers, 2019) Tomić, Sergej; Joksimović, Bojan; Bekić, Marina; Vasiljević, Miloš; Milanović, Marijana; Čolić, Miodrag; Vučević, DraganaMyeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) emerged as major factors driving the tumor progression due to numerous immunosuppressive mechanisms they possess. Prostaglandin (PG)E2 is shown critical for the induction of MDSC and their suppressive functions in vivo, but it is poorly understood how it affects the capacity of MDSC to induce different subsets of regulatory T cells (Treg). By using a novel protocol for the generation of mononuclear (M)-MDSC, we showed that PGE2 potentiates the GM-CSF/IL-6-dependent induction of CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR−CD14+ M-MDSC in vitro. PGE2 diminished the capacity of GM-CSF/IL-6 M-MDSC to produce proinflammatory cytokines upon activation and augmented their capacity to produce IL-27, IL-33, and TGF-b. These results correlated with an increased potential of GM-CSF/IL-6/PGE2 M-MDSC to suppress T cell proliferation, cells, and reduce the development of alloreactive Th17 and cytotoxic T cells. Interestingly, GM-CSF/IL-6/PGE2 M-MDSC displayed a lower capacity to induce TGF-b-producing FoxP3+ regulatory Treg compared to GM-CSF/IL-6 M-MDSC, as a consequence of reduced IDO-1 expression. In contrast, GM-CSF/IL-6/PGE2 M-MDSC potentiated IL-10 production by CD8+T, Th2, and particularly CD4+FoxP3− type 1 Treg, the latter of which depended on ILT3 and ILT4 expression. Cumulatively, PGE2 potentiated the suppressive phenotype and functions of GM-CSF/IL-6-induced M-MDSC and changed the mechanisms involved in Treg induction, which could be important for investigating new therapeutic strategies focused on MDSC-related effects in tumors and autoimmune diseases.
- СтавкаSitagliptin Induces Tolerogenic Human Dendritic Cells(MDPI, 2023) Drakul, Marija; Tomić, Sergej; Bekić, Marina; Mihajlović, Dušan; Vasiljević, Miloš; Rakočević, Sara; Ðokić, Jelena; Popović, Nikola; Bokonjić, Dejan; Čolić, MiodragSitagliptin, an anti-diabetic drug, is a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4/CD26 inhibitor with additional anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated for the first time the effect of sitagliptin on the differentiation and functions of human dendritic cells generated from monocytes (MoDCs) for 4 days using the standard GM-CSF/IL-4 procedure. LPS/IFN-y treatment for an additional 24 h was used for maturation induction of MoDCs. Sitagliptin was added at the highest non-cytotoxic concentration (500 g/mL) either at the beginning (sita 0d protocol) or after MoDC differentiation (sita 4d protocol). Sitagliptin impaired differentiation and maturation of MoDCs as judged with the lower expression of CD40, CD83, CD86, NLRP3, and HLA-DR, retention of CD14 expression, and inhibited production of IL- , IL-12p70, IL-23, and IL-27. In contrast, the expression of CD26, tolerogenic DC markers (ILT4 and IDO1), and production of immunoregulatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF- ) were increased. Generally, the sita 0d protocol was more efficient. Sitagliptin-treated MoDCs were poorer allostimulators of T-cells in MoDC/T-cell co-culture and inhibited Th1 and Th17 but augmented Th2 and Treg responses. Tolerogenic properties of sitagliptin-treated MoDCs were additionally confirmed by an increased frequency of CD4+CD25+CD127- FoxP3+ Tregs and Tr1 cells (CD4+IL-10+FoxP3-) in MoDC/T-cell co-culture. The differentiation of IL-10+ and TGF- + Tregs depended on the sitagliptin protocol used. A Western blot analysis showed that sitagliptin inhibited p65 expression of NF-kB and p38MAPK during the maturation of MoDCs. In conclusion, sitagliptin induces differentiation of tolerogenic DCs, and the effect is important when considering sitagliptin for treating autoimmune diseases and allotransplant rejection.
- СтавкаThe Effect of Stabilisation Agents on the Immunomodulatory Properties of Gold Nanoparticles Obtained by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis(MDPI, 2019) Bekić, Marina; Tomić, Serge; Rudolf, Rebeka; Milanović, Marijana; Vučević, Dragana; Anžel, Ivan; Čolić, MiodragGold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been investigated extensively as drug carriers in tumour immunotherapy in combinationwith photothermal therapy. For this purpose, GNPs should be stabilised in biological fluids. The goal of this study was to examine how stabilisation agents influence cytotoxicity andimmune response in vitro. SphericalGNPs, 20 nmin size, werepreparedbyultrasonic spraypyrolysis (USP). Three types of stabilising agents were used: sodium citrate (SC), polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP), and poly-ethylene glycol (PEG). Pristine, non-stabilised GNPs were used as a control. The culture models were mouse L929 cells, B16F10 melanoma cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs), obtained from healthy donors. Control SC- and PEG-GNPs were non-cytotoxic at concentrations (range 1–100 g/mL), in contrast to PVP-GNPs, which were cytotoxic at higher concentrations. Control GNPs inhibited the production of IFN-U slightly, and augmented the production of IL-10 by PHA-stimulated PBMNC cultures. PEG-GNPs inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF- ) and Th1-related cytokines (IFN-U and IL-12p70), and increased the production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5). SC-PEG inhibited the production of IL-8 and IL-17A. In contrast, PVP-GNPs stimulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Th1 cytokines, and IL-17A, but also IL-10. When uptake of GNPs by monocytes/macrophages in PBMNC cultures was analysed, the ingestion of PEG- GNPs was significantly lower compared to SC- and PVP-GNPs. In conclusion, stabilisation agents modulate biocompatibility and immune response significantly, so their adequate choice for preparation of GNPs is an important factor when considering the use of GNPs for application in vivo.