title: Silver nanoparticles induce hormesis in A549 human epithelial cells.
abstract: Despite the gaps in our knowledge on the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), the application of these materials is fast expanding, from medicine, to food as well as the use in consumer products. It has been reported that prolonged exposure might make cells more resistant to AgNPs. This prompted us to investigate if AgNPs may give rise to a hormetic response. Two types of AgNPs were used, i.e. colloidal AgNPs and an AgNP powder. For both types of nanosilver it was found that a low dose pretreatment of A549 human epithelial cells with AgNPs induced protection against a toxic dose of AgNPs and acrolein. This protection was more pronounced after pretreatment with the colloidal AgNPs. Interestingly, the mechanism of the hormetic response appeared to differ from that of acrolein. Adaptation to acrolein is related to Nrf2 translocation, increased mRNA expression of γGCS, HO-1 and increased GSH levels and the increased GSH levels can explain the hormetic effect. The adaptive response to AgNPs was not related to an increase in mRNA expression of γGCS and GSH levels. Yet, HO-1 mRNA expression and Nrf2 immunoreactivity were enhanced, indicating that these processes might be involved. So, AgNPs induce adaptation, but in contrast to acrolein GSH plays no role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: mireille.sthijns@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Mireille M J P E
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sthijns
authors.affiliation: IUF - Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 DE Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Waluree
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thongkam
authors.affiliation: IUF - Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 DE Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology e.V. (IUTA), Bliersheimerstraße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellack
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aalt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bast
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guido R M M
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Haenen
authors.affiliation: IUF - Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 DE Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Roel P F
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Schins
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D000171:Acrolein / Q000633:toxicity; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000235:genetics; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics; D059165:Hormesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012834:Silver; D000171:Acrolein; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Acrolein; GSH; Hormesis; Nrf2; Silver nanoparticles