title: Chromium oxide nanoparticle-induced genotoxicity and p53-dependent apoptosis in human lung alveolar cells.
abstract: Chromium oxide (Cr2 O3 ) nanoparticles (NPs) are being increasingly used as a catalyst for aromatic compound manufacture, abrading agents and as pigments (e.g., Viridian). Owing to increased applications, it is important to study the biological effects of Cr2 O3 NPs on human health. The lung is one of the main exposure routes to nanomaterials; therefore, the present study was designed to determine the genotoxic and apoptotic effect of Cr2 O3 NPs in human lung epithelial cells (A549). The study also elucidated the molecular mechanism of its toxicity. Cr2 O3 NPs led to DNA damage, which was deduced by comet assay and cytokinesis block micronucleus assay. The damage could be mediated by the increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Further, the oxygen species led to a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in the ratio of BAX/Bcl-2 leading to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis induced by Cr2 O3 NPs, which ultimately leads to cell death. Hence, there is a need of regulations to be imposed in NP usage. The study provided insight into the caspase-dependent mechanistic pathway of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.|Institute of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Violet Aileen
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Senapati
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.|Institute of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Govind Sharan
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Alok Kumar
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9005-2477
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.|Institute of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhawan
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D048749:Cytokinesis; D004249:DNA Damage; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D017608:Chromium Compounds; D009153:Mutagens; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C023600:chromic oxide
keywords: BAX/Bcl-2; DNA damage; apoptosis; chromium oxide nanoparticles; mitochondria