Responses to silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate in a battery of biomarkers measured in coelomocytes and in target tissues of Eisenia fetida earthworms.
The current use and development of applications with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) could lead to potential inputs of these NPs to soils. Consequently, it is crucial to understand the ecotoxicological risks posed by Ag NPs in the terrestrial compartment. In the present investigation, the effects produced by PVP-PEI coated Ag NPs were assessed in Eisenia fetida earthworms in comparison with the soluble form (AgNO3). Earthworms were exposed for 1, 3 and 14 days to a range of sublethal concentrations of Ag (0, 0.05 and 50mg/kg) and at each exposure time, apart from mortality and weight loss of individuals, metallothionein (MT) protein concentration and catalase (CAT) activity were quantified in earthworm tissues. In addition, cellular and molecular level endpoints (cell viability, absolute and relative trophic indices and transcription levels of catalase-cat- and metallothionein-mt-) were measured in coelomocytes extruded from exposed earthworms. Despite the lack of effects in traditional endpoints (mortality and weight loss), Ag NPs and AgNO3posed changes at lower levels of biological complexity (biochemical, cellular and molecular levels). Both Ag forms induced similar changes in the metal detoxification mechanism (MT, mt) and in the antioxidant response system (CAT, cat) of E. fetida. In contrast, Ag form dependant cytotoxicity and subpopulation ratio alterations (eleocytes/amoebocytes) were recorded in extruded coelomocytes. Complementarily, the use of coelomocytes to assess molecular level endpoints represented a relevant alternative for development of non-invasive biomarkers.
National Council of Scientific and Technical Researches CONICET, Av. Rivadavia 1917, 1023 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ecotoxicology Research Program, Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Luján, P.O. Box 221, B6700 Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Curieses Silvana
CS
Patricia
Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, and Zoology and Animal Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
García-Velasco
GV
Nerea
Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, and Zoology and Animal Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
Urionabarrenetxea
U
Erik
National Council of Scientific and Technical Researches CONICET, Av. Rivadavia 1917, 1023 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ecotoxicology Research Program, Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Luján, P.O. Box 221, B6700 Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sáenz María
SM
Elena
Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, and Zoology and Animal Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
Bilbao
B
Eider
National Council of Scientific and Technical Researches CONICET, Av. Rivadavia 1917, 1023 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ecotoxicology Research Program, Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Luján, P.O. Box 221, B6700 Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Di Marzio Walter
DMW
Darío
Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, and Zoology and Animal Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. Electronic address: manu.soto@ehu.eus.
Soto
S
Manu
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D012995:Solubility
D015415:Biomarkers; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012834:Silver; D008668:Metallothionein; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D002374:Catalase
Antioxidant response; Coelomocyte cytotoxicity; Eisenia fetida; Metal detoxification; Silver nanoparticle; Soil ecotoxicology