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Nano-TiO2-Induced Apoptosis by Oxidative Stress-Mediated DNA Damage and Activation of p53 in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells

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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to explore the mechanism of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. Toxicity was evaluated using changes in various cellular parameters of HEK-293 cells like morphology, viability, metabolic activity, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Oxidative stress was measured by the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Apoptosis induced by nano-TiO2 was characterized by PI staining and DNA ladder assay. Furthermore, apoptotic proteins such as p53 and Bax were analysed by western blot. Our results indicate that nano-TiO2 induces cytotoxicity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Oxidative stress and apoptosis were induced by exposure to nano-TiO2. Moreover, the expression of p53, Bax and caspase-3 were increased in a dose-dependent pattern. In conclusion, ROS-mediated oxidative stress, the activation of p53, Bax, caspase-3 and oxidative DNA damage are involved in the mechanistic pathways of nano-TiO2-induced apoptosis in HEK-293 cells.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Advance Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF), JNU New Delhi, for confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and EDXRF instruments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110 067, India

    Ramovatar Meena & Paulraj Rajamani

  2. School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Rani

  3. Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Ruchita Pal

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  1. Ramovatar Meena
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  2. Madhu Rani
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Correspondence to Paulraj Rajamani.

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Meena, R., Rani, M., Pal, R. et al. Nano-TiO2-Induced Apoptosis by Oxidative Stress-Mediated DNA Damage and Activation of p53 in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 167, 791–808 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9699-3

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