Particles induce apical plasma membrane enlargement in epithelial lung cell line depending on particle surface area dose

Table 2 Summary of stereological results

Particle size/number concentration	APM surface area density [μm^-1]	Number-weighted mean volume of A549 cells [μm³]	Total APM surface area per A549 cell [μm²]
Negative control	0.251 (0.043)	1016.3 (92.2)	254.6 (45.9)
1 μm/3 × 10⁷	0.247 (0.036)	1052.2 (69.9)	259.7 (41.8)
1 μm/6 × 10⁸	0.336 (0.048) *	1468.6 (238.4) *	492.5 (98.2) *
0.05 μm/3 × 10⁷	0.247 (0.040)	1090.8 (144.5)	267.3 (43.9)
0.05 μm/6 × 10⁸	0.239 (0.055)	1077.6 (108.9)	256.2 (57.4)
0.05 μm/4.5 × 10¹¹	0.376 (0.061) *	1211.6 (75.1)	454.8 (72.2) *

Note. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation). The asterisk (*) indicates a significant difference versus negative control (p < 0.01). The APM surface area density and total surface area per A549 cell were significantly increased at 1 μm/6 × 10⁸ and 0.05 μm/4.5 × 10¹¹. Only at 1 μm/6 × 10⁸ was the number-weighted mean volume of A549 cells enhanced, probably due to the ingested particles.

ISSN: 1465-993X