Cellular distribution and behavior of metallothionein in mammalian cells following exposure to silver nanoparticles and silver ions

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are commercially used mainly as antibacterial reagents in wound dressing and deodorant powders. However, the mechanisms underlying Ag toxicity in mammals are not fully understood. In the present study, we assessed cellular distribution and toxicity of AgNPs and AgNO3 in mouse macrophage cell line (J774.1) and those of AgNO3 in human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) focusing on behavior of metallothionein (MT). J774.1 cells were exposed to 0-100 μg Ag/mL AgNPs or AgNO3 and BEAS-2B cells were exposed to 0-100 μM AgNO3 for 24 h. The cytotoxicity was assayed by a modified MTT method. The cellular concentration and distribution of Ag were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectorometry (ICP-MS) and laser scanning microscopy. Distribution of Ag to MT and other proteins was determined using HPLC-ICP-MS. Most AgNPs were found in lysosomes in J774.1 at 3 h after post exposure. Ag was distributed to high molecular weight proteins in AgNPs-exposed cells, while most Ag was bound to MT in AgNO3-exposed cells. In AgNO3-exposed BEAS-2B cells cellular Ag concentration and Ag-bound MT (Ag-MT) were sharply increased up to 3 h and then decreased. ROS production appeared to cause relocation of MT-bound Ag to mitochondria, which evoked inhibition of electron transport chain. AgNPs were sequestered by high-molecular weight proteins rather than MT, probably because they were taken up by lysosomes before induction of MT.