title: Effects of fullerene C₆₀ nanoparticles on A549 cells.
abstract: Fullerene C60 nanoparticles (C60 NPs) have been widely applied in many fields due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. As production and applications of C60 NPs expand, public concern about the potential risk to human health has also risen. The toxicity of C60 NPs was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay using the cultured human epithelial cell line A549. Cellular uptake of the C60 NPs was observed by TEM imaging. In our findings, C60 NPs could readily enter A549 cells and showed no significant toxicity. Exposure of cultured A549 cells to C60 NPs led to an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) while glutathione reductase activity was probably activated to generate more GSH to maintain a cellular oxidation-reduction equilibrium. The A549 cells responded to the ROS increases through the inauguration of autophagic responses, aimed at restoring cellular health and equilibrium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong RD, Shanghai 200237, China.
authors.forename: Fude
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. Electronic address: chanjin1980@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Henan Normal University, Henan 453007, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Xiangyin RD, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong RD, Shanghai 200237, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Xiangyin RD, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: yjyang22@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yongji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001343:Autophagy; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C518959:ATG16L1 protein, human; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D037741:Fullerenes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione; C069837:fullerene C60
keywords: A549 cells; C(60) NPs; Cell autophagy; GSH; ROS