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ERK pathway is activated in bare-FeNPs-induced autophagy

  • Molecular Toxicology
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Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs) are known to be one of the most biocompatible and safe nanoparticles. However, their long-term persistence remains a problem, and macrophages play as an important mediator in continuous stimulation of the immune system due to biopersistence of nanoparticles. In the present study, we identified the mechanisms underlying the uptake and toxicity of bare-FeNPs using RAW264.7 cells, a mouse peritoneal macrophage cell line. The bare-FeNPs penetrated the cell membrane through electrostatic interactions together with the general phagocytic pathway. At 24 h after exposure, they distributed freely in the cytosol or within autophagosome-like vacuoles. Bare-FeNPs induced decrease in the cell viability along with the cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. In addition, they increased the generation of ROS and the secretion of NO and TNF alpha as well as the expression of SOD-1 and SOD-2 proteins, which are an antioxidant. While the mitochondrial calcium level, the intensity of labeled mitochondria, and ATP production decreased, the levels of autophagy-related proteins such as p62, beclin 1, ATG5, and LC3B increased in a dose-dependent manner together with the levels of ATF 3, p-EGFR, and p-ERK proteins. However, the level of p-JNK protein clearly decreased. TEM images also showed that damaged organelle exist within autophagosome-like vacuoles with bare-FeNPs. On the basis of these results, we suggest that bare-FeNPs induce autophagy by initiating oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, ERK, but not JNK, pathway is activated in bare-FeNPs-induced autophagy.

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Acknowledgments

We are very thankful to Bengt Fadeel, Karolinska Institute for helpful discussions. This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (2011-35B-E00011). Part of this work was also supported by National Research Foundation grant (2011-0019175) funded by the Korea government (MEST). In addition, M.H.C acknowledges the support of the Veterinary Research Institute of Seoul National University in Korea.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Korea

    Eun-Jung Park, Sang-Wook Kim & Jae-Ho Kim

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, 139-701, Korea

    Ha Nee Umh & Younghun Kim

  3. College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Myung-Haing Cho

  4. Department of Nano Fusion Technology, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, 443-270, Korea

    Myung-Haing Cho

  5. Graduate Group of Tumor Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Myung-Haing Cho

  6. Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, 443-270, Korea

    Myung-Haing Cho

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204_2013_1134_MOESM1_ESM.ppt

EDS analysis of cell exposed to bare-FeNPs. (a) bright field and (b) dark field, and (d) EDS spectra of star point in TEM image (PPT 408 kb)

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204_2013_1134_MOESM3_ESM.ppt

Decrease in pH following bare-FeNPs exposure. The pH value in cell culture media was measured within maximum 5 min after incubation finishing. The experiment was performed three times, independently, and the value means AV ± SD (PPT 263 kb)

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Park, EJ., Umh, H.N., Kim, SW. et al. ERK pathway is activated in bare-FeNPs-induced autophagy. Arch Toxicol 88, 323–336 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-013-1134-1

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