title: Zinc oxide nanoparticles induce apoptosis by enhancement of autophagy via PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibition.
abstract: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) induced macrophage cell death and its mechanism remains to be solved. Herein, we report that ZnO NPs induced ROS generation by depleting antioxidant enzymes, increasing lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl contents in macrophages. The oxidative stress was induced by the inhibition of Nrf2 transcription factor release. ZnO NPs also activated the cleavage of apoptosis markers like caspases 3, 8 and 9. γH2Ax activation and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) that are known indicators of genotoxicity were found to be activated by following p53, p21/waf1 signaling. ZnO NPs increased the number of autophagosomes and autophagy marker proteins such as microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-isoform II (MAP-LC3-II) and Beclin 1 after 0.5-24h of treatment. Phosphorylated Akt, PI3K and mTOR were significantly decreased on ZnO NPs exposure. Moreover, the apoptotic and autophagic cell death could be inhibited on blocking of ROS generation by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which demonstrated the critical role of ROS in both types of cell death. In addition, inhibition of LC3-II by siRNA-dependent knockdown attenuated the cleavage of caspase 3. This study demonstrates autophagy supports apoptosis on ZnO NPs exposure.
authors.affiliation: Food, Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), M.G. Marg, Post Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ruchi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India.
authors.forename: Sunil Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopy Facility, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg. Post Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, India.
authors.forename: L K S
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Food, Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), M.G. Marg, Post Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mukul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Food, Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), M.G. Marg, Post Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, India. Electronic address: anurag1706@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Food, Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), M.G. Marg, Post Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India. Electronic address: pddwivedi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Premendra D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015034:Zinc Oxide; C480860:Map1lc3b protein, mouse
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Macrophages; Oxidative stress; Zinc oxide nanoparticles