Multiple endpoints to evaluate pristine and remediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles genotoxicity in lung epithelial A549 cells. (5th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stoccoro, Andrea; Di Bucchianico, Sebastiano; Coppedè, Fabio; Ponti, Jessica; Uboldi, Chiara; Blosi, Magda; Delpivo, Camilla; Ortelli, Simona; Costa, Anna Luisa; Migliore, Lucia
• Is Part Of: Toxicology letters. Volume 276(2017)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2017-07-05
• Subjects: TiO2 nanoparticles -- Genotoxicity -- Epigenotoxicity; Toxicology -- Periodicals; 363.179
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2017.05.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-4274

Abstract

Highlights: In vitro effects induced by coated with silica or citrate TiO2 NP were studied. Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and epigenetoxicity of TiO2 NP were investigated in A549 cells. TiO2 NP resulted both cytotoxic and genotoxic, and coating strategy did not reduce adverse effects. Reduction of global DNA methylation levels was induced by all NP after 72 h of treatment. Citrate coated TiO2 NP induced the highest cytotoxic, genotoxic and epigenotoxic effects. Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NP) are broadly used in a wide range of applications. Several studies have reported that TiO2 NP possess cytotoxic and genotoxic properties that could induce adverse health effects in humans. The FP7 Sanowork project was aimed to minimize occupational hazard and exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENM), including TiO2 NP, through the surface modification in order to avoid possible adverse toxic effects for humans. In this study we investigated cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and epigenetic properties of TiO2 NP uncoated and coated with silica or citrate, as well as of the benchmark material P25. We used a panel of in vitro assays in the human lung epithelial cell line A549, in order to better understand if the remediation strategy adopted was able to counteract possible toxic effects of uncoated TiO2 NP. Our results showed that the uncoated TiO2 NP were both cytotoxic and genotoxic, and the remediation strategy adopted did not reduce the adverse effects of uncoated TiO2 NP. In particular, the presence of citrate was able to increase their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, exerting also epigenotoxic effects, as evaluated by the marked reduction of LINE-1 methylation levels.