Effects of in vitro exposure to titanium dioxide on DNA integrity of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) fibroblasts and leukocytes.
In the present study, the genotoxic potential of nanosized TiO2 anatase and micro-sized rutile on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) fibroblasts and leukocytes was investigated. Human and mouse cells were also studied in order to compare susceptibility to TiO2 in different mammalian species. Cell lines were exposed for 4, 24, and 48 h to different concentrations of TiO2 (20, 50, 100, 150 μg/ml) and DNA damage was investigated by single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay). Both anatase and rutile induced increased DNA damage, even though statistically significant effects were scattered according to species and cell lines. Bottlenose dolphin leukocytes and murine fibroblasts exhibited increased DNA damage after rutile exposure at some doses/times, while human fibroblasts showed a significant dose-response effect after a 4 h exposure to anatase. Human leukocytes were tolerant to both anatase and rutile. Ultrastructural investigation showed that TiO2 particles entered the cell and were compartmentalized within membrane-bound vesicles.
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy.
Giada
G
Frenzilli
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy.
Margherita
M
Bernardeschi
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Guidi
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy.
Vittoria
V
Scarcelli
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy.
Paolo
P
Lucchesi
Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy.
Letizia
L
Marsili
Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy.
Maria Cristina
MC
Fossi
DAIS-Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatiche e Statistiche, Università Ca' Foscari, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy.
Andrea
A
Brunelli
Dipartimento di Filosofia e Beni Culturali, Università Ca' Foscari, Dorsoduro 3484/D, 30123 Venice, Italy.
Giulio
G
Pojana
DAIS-Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatiche e Statistiche, Università Ca' Foscari, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy.
Antonio
A
Marcomini
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: marco.nigro@med.unipi.it.
Marco
M
Nigro
D000818:Animals; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D014025:Titanium / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium
Bottlenose dolphin; Comet assay; DNA damage; Nanomaterials; Titanium dioxide