Tattoo ink induces inflammation in the draining lymph node and alters the immune response to vaccination
Abstract
Despite safety concerns regarding the toxicity of tattoo ink, no studies have reported the consequences of tattooing on the immune response. In this work, we have characterized the transport and accumulation of different tattoo inks in the lymphatic system using a murine model. Upon quick lymphatic drainage, we observed that macrophages mainly capture the ink in the lymph node (LN). An initial inflammatory reaction at local and systemic levels follows ink capture. Notably, the inflammatory process is maintained over time, as we observed clear signs of inflammation in the draining LN 2 mo following tattooing. In addition, the capture of ink by macrophages was associated with the induction of apoptosis in both human and murine models. Furthermore, the ink accumulated in the LN altered the immune response against two different types of vaccines. On the one hand, we observed a reduced antibody response following vaccination with an messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, which was associated with a decreased expression of the spike protein in macrophages in the draining LN. In contrast, we observed an enhanced response when vaccinated with influenza vaccine inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Considering the unstoppable trend of tattooing in the population, our results are crucial in informing the toxicology programs, policymakers, and the general public regarding the potential risk of the tattooing practice associated with an altered immune response.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (20)
Arianna Capucetti
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Juliana Falivene
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Chiara Pizzichetti
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Irene Latino
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Luca Mazzucchelli
Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Istituto Cantonale di Patologia
Vivien Schacht
Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Hannover Medical School
Urs Hauri
Basel Kantonal Laboratory, Chromatographie Group
Andrea Raimondi
Protein Folding and Quality Control, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Tommaso Virgilio
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Alain Pulfer
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Simone Mosole
Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Oncology Research, Università della Svizzera Italiana
Llorenç Grau-Roma
Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Institute of Animal Pathology, Comparative Pathology Platform, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern
Wolfgang Bäumler
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg
Martin Palus
Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Louis Renner
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Daniel Ruzek
Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Gabrielle Goldman Levy
World Health Organization Classification of Tumours, International Agency for Research on Cancer
Milena Foerster
Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer
Kamil Chahine
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana
Santiago F. Gonzalez
Infection and Immunity Laboratory, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana