Background: Fullerenes and metallofullerenes can be considered promising nanopharmaceuticals themselves and as a basis for chemical modification. As reactive oxygen species homeostasis plays a vital role in cells, the study of their effect on genes involved in oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory responses are of particular importance.
Methods: Human fetal lung fibroblasts were incubated with aqueous dispersions of C60, C70, and Gd@C82 in concentrations of 5 nM and 1.5 µM for 1, 3, 24, and 72 h. Cell viability, intracellular ROS, NOX4, NFκB, PRAR-γ, NRF2, heme oxygenase 1, and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 expression have been studied.
Results & conclusion: The aqueous dispersions of C60, C70, and Gd@C82 fullerenes are active participants in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Low and high concentrations of aqueous fullerene dispersions (AFD) have similar effects. C70 was the most inert substance, C60 was the most active substance. All AFDs have both "prooxidant" and "antioxidant" effects but with a different balance. Gd@C82 was a substance with more pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while C70 had more pronounced "prooxidant" properties.
Keywords: NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1; NOX4; Nrf2; PRAR-γ; ROS homeostasis; anti-inflammatory pathways; aqueous fullerene dispersions; heme oxygenase 1; metallofullerenes; oxidative stress; pristine fullerenes.