Mechanistic investigation of toxicity of chromium oxide nanoparticles in murine fibrosarcoma cells.
Chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr2O3NPs) are widely used in polymers and paints. In the present study, we aimed to determine the toxicity of Cr2O3NPs in murine fibrosarcoma (L929) cells. The cytotoxicity of Cr2O3NPs was measured by MTT and neutral red uptake assays; Cr2O3NPs had significant cytotoxic effects on L929 cells. Enhancement of intracellular reactive oxygen species was observed in L929 cells after exposure to Cr2O3NPs. Cr2O3NPs produced caspase-3, indicating that exposure to Cr2O3NPs induced apoptosis. After exposure to Cr2O3NPs, the cellular glutathione level decreased and lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and catalase increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. By using single-cell gel tests, we also observed increased DNA damage in a Cr2O3NP exposure-duration- and dose-dependent fashion. Cell toxicity and DNA damage may be useful biomarkers for determining the safety of Cr2O3NPs in human and animal health.
Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saud
S
Alarifi
Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Daoud
D
Ali
Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saad
S
Alkahtani
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D017608:Chromium Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D053148:Caspase 3; D005978:Glutathione; C023600:chromic oxide
Cr2O3NPs; L929 cells; MTT assay; oxidative stress