title: Nanoalumina induces apoptosis by impairing antioxidant enzyme systems in human hepatocarcinoma cells.
abstract: Alumina nanoparticles (Al2O3NPs) are gradually used in various areas, including nanomedicine, biosensors, and electronics. The current study aimed to explore the DNA damage and cytotoxicity due to Al2O3NPs on human hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2). The MTT and neutral red uptake assays showed that Al2O3NPs induce significant cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, Al2O3NPs induced significant intracellular reactive oxygen species production and elevated lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase levels in the HepG2 cells. Al2O3NPs also induced significant decrease in reduced glutathione levels and increase caspase-3 activity in HepG2 cells. DNA fragmentation analysis using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis showed that Al2O3NPs cause genotoxicity in dose- and time-dependent manner. However, they induce reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress, leading to oxidative DNA damage, a probable mechanism of genotoxicity. This study warrants more careful assessment of Al2O3NPs before their industrial application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saud
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alarifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Daoud
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alkahtani
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D020552:Comet Assay; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D053148:Caspase 3; D005978:Glutathione; D000537:Aluminum Oxide
keywords: Al2O3NPs; DNA damage; HepG2 cells; MTT assay; oxidative stress