Expression of TLR-9 and IL-1 following Concomitant Exposure to Imidacloprid and Endotoxin

Imidacloprid is used for crop protection and flea control. Its unintentional impacts on various target organs have been described and the possible toxicological interaction with imidacloprid and endotoxin is reported in this study. Male Swiss albino mice were administered imidacloprid orally at 1/20^th of LD₅₀ dissolved in corn oil for 30 d. Five animals from each group were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or normal saline solution (NSS) at 80 μg mouse⁻¹ administered intranasally. There was no change (p<0.05) in the expression of toll like receptor 9 (TLR-9) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) both at mRNA and protein levels in lungs following exposure to imidacloprid alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharides. But, a significant decrease in serum concentration of IL-1β protein levels and an increase in serum TLR-9 levels between control and imidacloprid treated animals was observed. The data showed that imidacloprid alone or in combination with LPS altered the expression of TLR-9 and IL-1β in peripheral blood suggesting its immunomodulatory potential.