Ultra-Small Iron Nanoparticles Target Mitochondria Inducing Autophagy, Acting on Mitochondrial DNA and Reducing Respiration
Lorenzo Rivas-García,
José Luis Quiles,
Alfonso Varela-López,
Francesca Giampieri,
Maurizio Battino,
Jörg Bettmer,
María Montes-Bayón,
Juan Llopis,
Cristina Sánchez-González
Affiliations
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18071 Armilla, Spain
José Luis Quiles
Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18071 Armilla, Spain
Alfonso Varela-López
Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18071 Armilla, Spain
Francesca Giampieri
Department of Clinical Specialist and Odontostomatological Sciences (DISCO)-Sez, Biochemistry, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Maurizio Battino
Department of Clinical Specialist and Odontostomatological Sciences (DISCO)-Sez, Biochemistry, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Jörg Bettmer
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), University of Oviedo, 33007 Oviedo, Spain
María Montes-Bayón
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), University of Oviedo, 33007 Oviedo, Spain
Juan Llopis
Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18071 Armilla, Spain
Cristina Sánchez-González
Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18071 Armilla, Spain
The application of metallic nanoparticles (materials with size at least in one dimension ranging from 1 to 100 nm) as a new therapeutic tool will improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The mitochondria could be a therapeutic target to treat pathologies whose origin lies in mitochondrial dysfunctions or whose progression is dependent on mitochondrial function. We aimed to study the subcellular distribution of 2–4 nm iron nanoparticles and its effect on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mitochondrial function, and autophagy in colorectal cell lines (HT-29). Results showed that when cells were exposed to ultra-small iron nanoparticles, their subcellular fate was mainly mitochondria, affecting its respiratory and glycolytic parameters, inducing the migration of the cellular state towards quiescence, and promoting and triggering the autophagic process. These effects support the potential use of nanoparticles as therapeutic agents using mitochondria as a target for cancer and other treatments for mitochondria-dependent pathologies.
