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Chromium(III) oxide nanoparticles induced remarkable oxidative stress and apoptosis on culture cells
Author(s) -
Horie Masanori,
Nishio Keiko,
Endoh Shigehisa,
Kato Haruhisa,
Fujita Katsuhide,
Miyauchi Arisa,
Nakamura Ayako,
Kinugasa Shinichi,
Yamamoto Kazuhiro,
Niki Etsuo,
Yoshida Yasukazu,
Iwahashi Hitoshi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.20695
Subject(s) - hexavalent chromium , chromium , cytotoxicity , nanoparticle , reactive oxygen species , hacat , chemistry , oxidative stress , apoptosis , biophysics , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , biochemistry , biology , in vitro , organic chemistry
Chromium(III) oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ) is used for industrial applications such as catalysts and pigments. In the classical form, namely the fine particle, Cr 2 O 3 is insoluble and chemically stable. It is classified as a low‐toxicity chromium compound. Recently, industrial application of nanoparticles (a new form composed of small particles with a diameter of ≤100 nm, in at least one dimension) has been increasing. Cellular effects induced by Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles are not known. To shed light upon this, the release of soluble chromium from Cr 2 O 3 nano‐ and fine‐particles in culture medium was compared. Fine Cr 2 O 3 particles were insoluble in the culture medium; on the contrary, Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles released soluble hexavalent chromium into the culture medium. Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed severe cytotoxicity. The effect of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles on cell viability was higher than that of fine particles. Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity equal to that of hexavalent chromium (K 2 Cr 2 O 7 ). Human lung carcinoma A549 cells and human keratinocyte HaCaT cells showed an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and activation of antioxidant defense systems on exposure to Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles. Exposure of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles led to caspase‐3 activation, showing that the decrease in cell viability by exposure to Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles was caused by apoptosis. Cellular responses were stronger in the Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles‐exposed cells than in fine Cr 2 O 3 ‐ and CrCl 3 ‐exposed cells. Cellular uptake of Cr 2 O 3 particles were observed in nano‐ and fine‐particles. The cellular influence of the extracellular soluble trivalent chromium was lower than that of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles. Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity by hexavalent chromium released at outside and inside of cells. The cellular influences of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles matched those of hexavalent chromium. In conclusion, Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles have a high cytotoxic potential. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 2013.