Genotoxicity of ferric oxide nanoparticles in Raphanus sativus: Deciphering the role of signaling factors, oxidative stress and cell death

Quaiser Saquib; Mohammad Faisal; Abdulrahman A Alatar; Abdulaziz A Al-Khedhairy; Mukhtar Ahmed; Sabiha M Ansari; Hend A Alwathnani; Mohammad K Okla; Sourabh Dwivedi; Javed Musarrat; Shelly Praveen; Shams T Khan; Rizwan Wahab; Maqsood A Siddiqui; Javed Ahmad

doi:10.1016/j.jes.2015.12.037

Genotoxicity of ferric oxide nanoparticles in Raphanus sativus: Deciphering the role of signaling factors, oxidative stress and cell death

J Environ Sci (China). 2016 Sep:47:49-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2015.12.037. Epub 2016 Apr 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; A.R. Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: quaiser.saquib0@gmail.com.
² Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: faisalm15@yahoo.com.
³ Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
⁶ Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri 185131, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
⁷ Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
⁸ Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; A.R. Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 27593272
DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2015.12.037

Abstract

We have studied the genotoxic and apoptotic potential of ferric oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3-NPs) in Raphanus sativus (radish). Fe2O3-NPs retarded the root length and seed germination in radish. Ultrathin sections of treated roots showed subcellular localization of Fe2O3-NPs, along with the appearance of damaged mitochondria and excessive vacuolization. Flow cytometric analysis of Fe2O3-NPs (1.0mg/mL) treated groups exhibited 219.5%, 161%, 120.4% and 161.4% increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), nitric oxide (NO) and Ca(2+) influx in radish protoplasts. A concentration dependent increase in the antioxidative enzymes glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) has been recorded. Comet assay showed a concentration dependent increase in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand breaks in Fe2O3-NPs treated groups. Cell cycle analysis revealed 88.4% of cells in sub-G1 apoptotic phase, suggesting cell death in Fe2O3-NPs (2.0mg/mL) treated group. Taking together, the genotoxicity induced by Fe2O3-NPs highlights the importance of environmental risk associated with improper disposal of nanoparticles (NPs) and radish can serve as a good indicator for measuring the phytotoxicity of NPs grown in NP-polluted environment.

Keywords: Apoptosis; DNA damage; Ferric oxide nanoparticles; Nanotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Phytotoxicity.

MeSH terms

Catalase / metabolism
Cell Death
DNA Damage
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Environmental Pollutants / toxicity*
Ferric Compounds / toxicity*
Glutathione / metabolism
Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
Metal Nanoparticles / toxicity*
Mutagenicity Tests
Mutagens / toxicity*
Oxidative Stress
Raphanus
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

Environmental Pollutants
Ferric Compounds
Mutagens
Reactive Oxygen Species
ferric oxide
Catalase
Superoxide Dismutase
Glutathione