Single‐walled carbon nanotubes affect the expression of the CCND2 gene in human U87 glioma cells

Abstract

The effect of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the expression level of several genes, related to cell cycle control, cell proliferation and migration in human glioma cell line U87 was investigated. The exposure of human U87 glioma cells to single‐walled carbon nanotubes in different concentrations during 24 of 48 h affects the expression of CCND2 (Cyclin D2), DTNA (Dystrobrevin alpha), PARVB (parvin beta), DUSP1 (dual specificity phosphatase 1), PFKFB3 (6‐phosphofructo‐2‐kinase/fructose‐2,6‐bisphosphatase‐3) and PFKFB4 genes at mRNA level, as well as the expression of alternative splice variants of DTNA, PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 transcripts. In case of CCND2 gene a strong, time and dose‐dependent suppressive effect was observed. The effect of single‐walled carbon nanotubes on the expression level of PFKFB3, PFKFB4, and PARVB was also suppressive but less prominent. At the same time, the expression of DUSP1 and DTNA genes is up‐regulated in cells treated by single‐walled carbon nanotubes. Thus, single‐walled carbon nanotubes exert anti‐proliferative properties in U87 glioma cells, as they down‐regulate the expression of proliferation‐related genes (CCND2, PARVB, PFKFB3, and PFKFB4) and up‐regulate DUSP1 and DTNA genes, which control apoptosis.