Journal of Jilin University Medicine Edition ›› 2015, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (03): 486-490.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587x.20150310

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Inhibitory effects of N-acetyl-cysteine on SiO2 nanoparticles-induced cytotoxicity

GENG Weijia1,2, LI Yang1,2, YU Yongbo1,2, YU Yang1,2, DUAN Junchao1,2, YANG Yumei1,2, ZOU Yang1,2,3, SUN Zhiwei1,2   

  1. 1. Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
    2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
    3. Beijing Institute of Tropical Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
  • Received:2014-12-28 Published:2015-08-01

Abstract:

Objective To detect the inhibitory effects of N-acetyl-cysteine(NAC)on the increasing of reactive oxygen species(ROS)level induced by SiO2 nanoparticles, and to clarify the mechanism of cytotoxicity induced by SiO2 nanoparticles. Methods The 68 nm SiO2 nanoparticles were selected and the in vitro cultured human normal liver L-02 cells were used as cell model.The L-02 cells were divided into control group, different concentrations of NAC(1, 2, 5, 10 mmol·L-1)pretreatment groups, different concentrations of SiO2 nanoparticle(10, 20, 50, 100 mg·L-1)groups and SiO2 nanoparticle exposure with NAC pretreatment groups.MTT assay was applied to measure the viabilities of the L-02 cells in NAC pretreatment groups with and without SiO2 nanoparticle exposure.The morphology of L-02 cells pretreated with NAC followed by SiO2 nanoparticles exposure was observed by inverted microscope.The intracellular ROS levels were measured by fluorescence microplate reader to evaluate NAC effects towards different concentrations of SiO2 nanoparticles. Results The cell viabilities in NAC pretreatment groups were elevated, and peaked in 5 mmol·L-1 group.However, compared with control group, the NAC did not increase the cell viability significantly(P>0.05).Compared with SiO2 nanoparticle exposure group without NAC, the cell viabilities in NAC pretreatment groups were increased(P<0.05).The image of NAC pretreatment group showed higher cell number and more distinct cell boundary compared with SiO2 nanoparticle group without NAC.With the increase of SiO2 nanoparticles concentration, the intracellular ROS levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner.Compared with ocntrol group, the ROS levels in 50 and 100 mg·L-1 SiO2 nanoparticle groups were increased significantly(P<0.05).The ROS levels in SiO2 nanoparticles exposure with NAC pretreatment groups were decreased compared with SiO2 nanoparticles exposure groups at the same concentration(P<0.05). Conclusion NAC can inhibit the decrease of cell viability and the increase of ROS level induced by SiO2 nanoparticles to some extent.The intracellular ROS level increase is one of the mechanisms of SiO2 nanoparticles-induced cytotoxicity.

Key words: SiO2 nanoparticles, cytotoxicity, N-acetyl-cysteine, reactive oxygen species, liver L-02 cells

CLC Number: 

  • R99