Genotoxicity of TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles in Four Different Human Cell Lines (A549, HEPG2, A172 and SH-SY5Y)
Fátima Brandão,
Natalia Fernández-Bertólez,
Fernanda Rosário,
Maria João Bessa,
Sónia Fraga,
Eduardo Pásaro,
João Paulo Teixeira,
Blanca Laffon,
Vanessa Valdiglesias,
Carla Costa
Affiliations
Fátima Brandão
EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Natalia Fernández-Bertólez
Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology, DICOMOSA Group, Universidade da Coruña, , Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
Fernanda Rosário
EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Maria João Bessa
EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Sónia Fraga
EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Eduardo Pásaro
Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology, DICOMOSA Group, Universidade da Coruña, , Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
João Paulo Teixeira
EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Blanca Laffon
Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology, DICOMOSA Group, Universidade da Coruña, , Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
Vanessa Valdiglesias
Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology, DICOMOSA Group, Universidade da Coruña, , Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
Carla Costa
EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have a wide variety of applications in many consumer products, including as food additives, increasing the concern about the possible hazards that TiO2 NPs may pose to human health. Although most previous studies have focused on the respiratory system, ingestion must also be considered as an important exposure route. Furthermore, after inhalation or ingestion, TiO2 NPs can reach several organs, such as the liver, brain or lungs. Taking this into consideration, the present study focuses on the uptake and potential genotoxicity (micronuclei induction) of TiO2 NPs on four human cell lines of diverse origin: lung cells (A549), liver cells (HepG2), glial cells (A172) and neurons (SH-SY5Y), using flow cytometry methods. Results showed a concentration-, time- and cell-type- dependent increase in TiO2 NPs uptake but no significant induction of micronuclei in any of the tested conditions. Data obtained reinforce the importance of cell model and testing protocols choice for toxicity assessment. However, some questions remain to be answered, namely on the role of cell culture media components on the agglomeration state and mitigation of TiO2 NPs toxic effects.
