Nonlethal dose of silver nanoparticles attenuates TNF-α-induced hepatic epithelial cell death through HSP70 overexpression

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2015 Jun 15;308(12):C959-63. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00044.2015. Epub 2015 Apr 15.

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-nps) have been widely used in various biomedical products. Compared with its hazardous effects extensively being studied, rare attention has been paid to the potential protective effect of Ag-nps to human health. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Ag-nps and heat shock treatment on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cell damage in Clone 9 cells. Clone 9 cells were pretreated with nonlethal concentration of Ag-nps (1 μg/ml) or heat shock, and then cell damages were induced by TNF-α (1 ng/ml). Protective effects of Ag-nps administration or heat shock treatment were determined by examining the TNF-α-induced changes in cell viabilities. The results showed that the intensity of cytotoxicity produced by TNF-α was alleviated upon treatment with nonlethal concentration of Ag-nps (1 μg/ml). Similar protective effects were also found upon heat shock treatment. These data demonstrate that Ag-nps and heat shock treatment were equally capable of inducing heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) protein expression in Clone 9 cells. The results suggest that clinically Ag-nps administration is a viable strategy to induce endogenous HSP70 expression instead of applying heat shock. In conclusion, our study for the first time provides evidence that Ag-nps may act as a viable alternative for HSP70 induction clinically.

Keywords: cell viability; heat shock protein 70; silver nanoparticles; tumor necrosis factor-α.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytoprotection
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Heat-Shock Response
  • Hot Temperature
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Metal Nanoparticles*
  • Rats
  • Silver / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / toxicity*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Silver