Silver nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity by a Trojan-horse type mechanism

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely applied in many household products and medical uses. However, studies on the effects of AgNPs on human health and environmental implications are in the beginning stage. Furthermore, most data on the toxicity of AgNPs have been generated using nanoparticles mod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicology in vitro 2010-04, Vol.24 (3), p.872-878
Main Authors: Park, Eun-Jung, Yi, Jongheop, Kim, Younghun, Choi, Kyunghee, Park, Kwangsik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agglomeration
Animals
Biocompatible Materials - toxicity
Cell Cycle - drug effects
Cell Death - drug effects
Cell Line
Culture Media
Cytosol - metabolism
Cytosol - ultrastructure
Gene Expression - drug effects
Glutathione - metabolism
Matrix Metalloproteinases - metabolism
Mice
MMP
Nanoparticles - toxicity
Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis
Particle Size
RNA - biosynthesis
RNA - genetics
Silver - metabolism
Silver - toxicity
Silver nanoparticles
TNF-α
Trojan-horse type mechanism
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
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Summary:Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely applied in many household products and medical uses. However, studies on the effects of AgNPs on human health and environmental implications are in the beginning stage. Furthermore, most data on the toxicity of AgNPs have been generated using nanoparticles modified with detergents to prevent agglomeration, which may alter their toxicities. In this study, we studied toxicity using AgNPs prepared by dispersing them in fetal bovine serum (FBS), biocompatible materials. AgNPs (average size; 68.9 nm, concentrations; 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 ppm, exposure time; 24, 48, 72, and 96 h) showed cytotoxicity to cultured RAW264.7 cells by increasing sub G1 fraction, which indicates cellular apoptosis. AgNPs decreased intracellular glutathione level, increased NO secretion, increased TNF-α in protein and gene levels, and increased gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3, MMP-11, and MMP-19). When cells were treated with AgNPs, they were observed in the cytosol of the activated cells, but were not observed in the dead cells. It seemed that AgNPs were ionized in the cells to cause cytotoxicity by a Trojan-horse type mechanism suggested by previously reported studies.
ISSN:0887-2333
1879-3177
DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2009.12.001