title: Using carbon nanotubes to induce micronuclei and double strand breaks of the DNA in human cells.
abstract: Carbon nanotubes are unique one-dimensional macromolecules with promising applications in biology and medicine. Since their toxicity is still under debate, here we present a study investigating the genotoxic properties of purified single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and amide functionalized purified SWCNTs on cultured human lymphocytes employing cytokinesis block micronucleus assay and enumeration of gamma H2AX foci as a measure of double strand breaks (DSBs) of the DNA in normal human fibroblasts. SWCNTs induce micronuclei (MN) formation in lymphocytes and decrease the proliferation potential (CBPI) of cells. In a fibroblast cell line the same dose of SWCNTs induces gamma H2AX foci 2.7-fold higher than in a control. Amide functionalized purified SWCNTs behave differently: they do not disturb the cell proliferation potential of harvested lymphocytes, but induce micronuclei to a higher extent than SWCNTs. When applied on fibroblasts, amide functionalized SWCNTs also induce gamma H2AX foci, 3.18-fold higher than the control. The cellular effects of MWCNTs display the broad spectrum of clastogenic properties seen as the highest incidence of induced lymphocyte micronuclei and anaphase bridges among nuclei in binucleated cells. Surprisingly, the incidence of induced gamma H2AX foci was not as high as was expected by the micronucleus test, which indicates that MWCNTs act as clastogen and aneugen agents simultaneously. Biological endpoints investigated in this study indicate a close relationship between the electrochemical properties of carbon nanotubes and observed genotoxicity.
authors: Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Jelena
authors: J
authors: Cveticanin
authors: Gordana
authors: G
authors: Joksic
authors: Andreja
authors: A
authors: Leskovac
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Petrovic
authors: Ana Valenta
authors: AV
authors: Sobot
authors: Olivera
authors: O
authors: Neskovic
mesh_terms: D000705:Anaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded / Q000187:drug effects*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects*; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D004247:DNA