Chromium(III) oxide nanoparticles induced remarkable oxidative stress and apoptosis on culture cells. Issue 2 (7th March 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Horie, Masanori; Nishio, Keiko; Endoh, Shigehisa; Kato, Haruhisa; Fujita, Katsuhide; Miyauchi, Arisa; Nakamura, Ayako; Kinugasa, Shinichi; Yamamoto, Kazuhiro; Niki, Etsuo; Yoshida, Yasukazu; Iwahashi, Hitoshi
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology. Volume 28:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2011-03-07
• Subjects: Water quality bioassay -- Periodicals; Water -- Pollution -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Microbiological assay -- Periodicals; Toxicity testing -- Periodicals; Environmental toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Écotoxicologie -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Périodiques; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/tox.20695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-4081

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Chromium(III) oxide (Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) is used for industrial applications such as catalysts and pigments. In the classical form, namely the fine particle, Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> 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<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles are not known. To shed light upon this, the release of soluble chromium from Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nano‐ and fine‐particles in culture medium was compared. Fine Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles were insoluble in the culture medium; on the contrary, Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles released soluble hexavalent chromium into the culture medium. Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles showed severe cytotoxicity. The effect of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles on cell viability was higher than that of fine particles. Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity equal to that of hexavalent chromium (K<sub>2</sub>Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>). 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<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles. Exposure of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles led to caspase‐3 activation, showing that the decrease in cell viability by exposure to Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles was caused by apoptosis. Cellular responses were stronger in the Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles‐exposed cells than in fine Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>‐ and CrCl<sub>3</sub>‐exposed cells. Cellular uptake of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles were observed in nano‐ and fine‐particles. The cellular influence of the extracellular soluble trivalent chromium was lower than that of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles. Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity by hexavalent chromium released at outside and inside of cells. The cellular influences of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles matched those of hexavalent chromium. In conclusion, Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles have a high cytotoxic potential. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 2013.</p> </abstract>