Carbon nanotubes induce reactive oxygen species production in HL-60 cells
Blanka Emődy-Kiss, János Fent, Susan Lakatos
Institute for Epidemiological and Scientific Research,
Medical Centre of HDF
H-1134, Róbert Károly krt. 44., Budapest, Hungary
Abstract:
Our study aimed to reveal whether the presence of carbon nanotubes (SWNT and MWNT) result in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia) cell cultures. ROS formation was followed by DCFDA staining. This fluorescent dye permeates cell membranes and becomes entrapped within the cell. To assess cellular responses fluorescent cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, while fluorescence of the cell-free controls and cell supernatants were measured by a fluorimeter.
Upon SWNT treatment, cells exhibited strong ROS production comparable to the positive control. At the same time, no dye leakage could be detected in the cell supernatants.
Our findings suggest that the presence of SWNTs induce substantial intracellular ROS generation i.e. oxidative stress. The change in the cell membrane permeability does not reach that level that would result in dye leakage.
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