title: Quantum dots enhance Cu2+ -induced hepatic L02 cells toxicity.
abstract: As a new class of xenogenous nanoparticle, quantum dots (QDs) possess the potential to co-exist with CU2+ in human liver. The combined toxicity is thus concerned. Considering QDs and Cu2+ are known ROS (reactive oxygen species) inducer, we investigated the combined oxidative stress and corresponding protective strategy using human hepatic L02 cells. The results demonstrated that the presence of a small amount of MPA-CdTe QDs (2 microg/mL) in a Cu2+ solution (2.5-20 microg/mL) resulted in a higher toxicity with up to 8-fold cell viability decrease, which was accompanied by cell morphology changes. The combined toxicity was then confirmed as ROS associated oxidative stress with up to 300% and 35% increase of the intracellular ROS level and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, respectively. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can also provide almost complete protection against the induced toxicity. Therefore, the ROS associated oxidant injury might be responsible for the QDs-Cu2+/CU2+ induced toxicity and could be balanced through cytoprotective antioxidant enzyme GST.
authors.affiliation: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, Shanghai 200237, China. maryzyx@163.com
authors.forename: Yuxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kuangfei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011041:Poisoning / Q000209:etiology; D045663:Quantum Dots; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003300:Copper; D000111:Acetylcysteine