title: [Effects of silver ion of silver nanoparticles on gap junctional intercellular communication of human skin cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To further investigate the effects of silver ion (Ag+) dissolved from silver nanoparticles (AgNps) on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between HaCaT cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 20 000×g of 1 g/L AgNps suspension were centrifuged at 4 °C for 2 h, then the supernatant was collected as Ag(+) stock solution and measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); GJIC was detected by the scrape loading/dye transfer assay; connexin 43 (Cx43) protein and mRNA level were estimated by Western-blot and RT-PCR, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different concentrations of Ag(+) (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L) did not affect the GJIC significantly. No notable changes were observed in expression of Cx43 protein and mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of Ag(+) and the effects on gap junctional intercellular communication between HaCaT cells may be different from those of AgNps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Fu-rong
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hong-ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Li-min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xin-biao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012834:Silver