Evaluation of gold nanoparticles effect on the cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and acetylcholinesterase activity in caco-2 cells exposed to malathion

Zeinab Shahmahmoodi,1 S. jafarinejad,2 M. r. hormozi-nezhad,3 H. ghafari,4 m. ghazi-khansari,5,*

1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of medical science, Tehran, Iran

Abstract


Introduction

Gold nanoparticles (aunps) represent one of the stable, and easily synthesized nanoparticles (nps) with unique optical properties which have been extensively used in consumer products and medicine. however, at present, we have limited knowledge of aunps cytotoxicity due to the conflicting available data in the literature. malathion is an organophosphorous (op) insecticide widely used in agriculture, residential area and public health programs with a clear mechanism of cytotoxicity

Methods

In this study, the cytotoxicity of malathion and aunps stabilized with citrate with sizes 10 and 20 nm were investigated in caco-2 cells by measuring cell viability, acetylcholinesterase activity, and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation level and glutathione content). also the effects of pretreatment of caco-2 cells with aunps in malathion treated cells were evaluated by measuring the mentioned parameters. the ic50s values at 48 hr were calculated for malathion, aunps 10 and 20 nm. then, the lowest concentration of aunps and the ic50 concentration of malathion were selected for further experiments to evaluate the effects of pretreatment of caco-2 cells with aunps on cell viability, acetylcholinesterase activity, and oxidative stress of malathion

Results

The results showed remarkably significant protective effects of aunps by attenuation of parameters of cytotoxicity induced by malathion in cells. it is the first report of the protective effects of aunps against malathion-induced cytotoxicity in caco-2 cell line

Conclusion

Considering the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that gold nanoparticles not only have no adverse effects on cytotoxicity, inhibition of ache, lipid peroxidation and glutathione level, but also they can somewhat improve the adverse effects of malathion in this cases

Keywords

Gold nanoparticles; acetylcholinesterase; malathion; caco-2 cells; cytotoxicity; oxidative stress