Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted considerable attentions due to their unique properties and diverse applications. Although it has been reported that AgNPs have acute toxic effects on a variety of cultured mammalian cells and animal models, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the associated risk of AgNPs to human health at non-cytotoxic doses. In this paper, HepG2 cells were exposed to 10 nm and 100 nm AgNPs under non-cytotoxic conditions, and cell viability was assessed. At low doses, AgNPs displayed “hormesis” effects by accelerating cell proliferation. Further studies indicated that the activation states of MAPKs were differentially regulated in this process. Specifically, by increasing the expression of downstream genes, p38 MAPK played a central role in non-cytotoxic AgNP-induced hormesis. Moreover, the treatment of HepG2 cells with silver ions (Ag+) at the same dose levels induced distinct biological effects, suggesting that different intrinsic properties exist for AgNPs and Ag+.
Highlights
Nanoparticles (NPs), defined as structures with at least one dimension of 100 nanometers or less [1], have been widely utilized due to their unique physical and chemical properties [2]
The AgNPs diluted in the exposure cell culture medium over time were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS)
HepG2 cells were treated with a series of concentrations of 10 nm AgNPs, 100 nm AgNPs or Ag+ for 24 hours, the samples were analyzed by western blot and the results showed that the expression of extracellular signal-regulating kinase (ERK), p38 and JNK were all unchanged (Figure 4A)
Summary
Nanoparticles (NPs), defined as structures with at least one dimension of 100 nanometers or less [1], have been widely utilized due to their unique physical and chemical properties [2]. AgNPs possess antimicrobial properties [3] and have been broadly applied in medical and consumer products, such as disinfectants for medical devices, food packaging and clothing [4,5,6]. Their special optical properties allow AgNPs to be incorporated into biological and chemical sensors [7,8]. In a 90-day inhalation exposure study in rats, Sung et al reported an increase in bile duct hyperplasia and liver inflammation [14]. Hepatotoxicity of AgNPs after 3-day oral exposure in mice was reported by Cha et al, with lymphocytic infiltration and the expression of genes related to apoptosis and inflammation in the liver [17]
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