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Susceptibility to gold nanoparticle-induced hepatotoxicity is enhanced in a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
- Source :
-
Toxicology [Toxicology] 2012 Mar 29; Vol. 294 (1), pp. 27-35. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Jan 28. - Publication Year :
- 2012
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Abstract
- Although the safety of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) use is of growing concern, most toxicity studies of AuNPs had focused on their chemical characteristics, including their physical dimensions, surface chemistry, and shape. The present study examined the susceptibility of rodents with healthy or damaged livers to AuNP-induced hepatotoxicity. To induce a model of liver injury, mice were fed a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks. Sizes and biodistribution of 15-nm PEGylated AuNPs were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were estimated with an automatic chemical analyzer, and liver sections were subjected to pathological examination. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were determined by biochemical assay. Lateral tail vein injection of MCD diet-fed mice with 5 mg kg(-1) AuNPs significantly elevated the serum ALT and AST levels compared to MCD diet-fed mice injected with mPEG (methylpolyethylene glycol). Similarly, severe hepatic cell damage, acute inflammation, and increased apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were observed in the livers of AuNP-injected mice on the MCD diet; these liver injuries were attenuated in mice fed a normal chow diet. The results suggest that AuNPs display toxicity in a stressed liver environment by stimulating the inflammatory response and accelerating stress-induced apoptosis. These conclusions may point to the importance of considering health conditions, including liver damage, in medical applications of AuNPs.<br /> (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Alanine Transaminase blood
Animals
Apoptosis drug effects
Aspartate Aminotransferases blood
Blotting, Western
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury pathology
Disease Models, Animal
Disease Susceptibility
Fatty Liver pathology
Lipid Peroxidation drug effects
Liver chemistry
Liver drug effects
Liver pathology
Male
Mice
Reactive Oxygen Species analysis
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury etiology
Fatty Liver complications
Gold Compounds toxicity
Metal Nanoparticles toxicity
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-3185
- Volume :
- 294
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Toxicology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22330258
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2012.01.013