title: Hormesis effects of silver nanoparticles at non-cytotoxic doses to human hepatoma cells.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted considerable attentions due to their unique properties and diverse applications. Although it has been reported that AgNPs have acute toxic effects on a variety of cultured mammalian cells and animal models, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the associated risk of AgNPs to human health at non-cytotoxic doses. In this paper, HepG2 cells were exposed to 10 nm and 100 nm AgNPs under non-cytotoxic conditions, and cell viability was assessed. At low doses, AgNPs displayed "hormesis" effects by accelerating cell proliferation. Further studies indicated that the activation states of MAPKs were differentially regulated in this process. Specifically, by increasing the expression of downstream genes, p38 MAPK played a central role in non-cytotoxic AgNP-induced hormesis. Moreover, the treatment of HepG2 cells with silver ions (Ag+) at the same dose levels induced distinct biological effects, suggesting that different intrinsic properties exist for AgNPs and Ag+.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hao
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Xing
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Chen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D059165:Hormesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018030:Silver Compounds; D012834:Silver; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases