Project description:This study compared global multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-induced miRNA expression from human lung epithelial and microvascular endothelial cells in monoculture and coculture with miRNA expression from mouse lungs exposed to MWCNT. The concordant miRNA in human cell lines, mouse lung tissues and blood will be potential biomarkers for occupational and medical surveillance.
Project description:There is a current interest in reducing the in vivo toxicity testing of nanomaterials in animals by increasing toxicity testing using in vitro cellular assays; however, toxicological results are seldom concordant between in vivo and in vitro models. This study compared global multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-induced gene expression from human lung epithelial and microvascular endothelial cells in monoculture and coculture with gene expression from mouse lungs exposed to MWCNT. Using a cutoff of 10% false discovery rate and 1.5 fold change, we determined that there were more concordant genes (gene expression both up- or downregulated in vivo and in vitro) expressed in both cell types in coculture than in monoculture. When reduced to only those genes involved in inflammation and fibrosis, known outcomes of in vivo MWCNT exposure, there were more disease-related concordant genes expressed in coculture than monoculture. Additionally, different cellular signaling pathways are activated in response to MWCNT dependent upon culturing conditions. As coculture gene expression better correlated with in vivo gene expression, we suggest that cellular cocultures may offer enhanced in vitro models for nanoparticle risk assessment and the reduction of in vivo toxicological testing.
Project description:Pulmonary exposure to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) induces an inflammatory and rapid fibrotic response, although the long-term signaling mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 1, 10, 40, or 80 μg MWCNT administered by pharyngeal aspiration on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) infiltration, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and lung histopathology for inflammatory and fibrotic responses in mouse lungs 1 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr postexposure. Further, a 120-μg crocidolite asbestos group was incorporated as a positive control for comparative purposes. Results showed that MWCNT increased BAL fluid LDH activity and PMN infiltration in a dose-dependent manner at all three postexposure times. Asbestos exposure elevated LDH activity at all 3 postexposure times and PMN infiltration at 1 mo and 6 mo postexposure. Pathological changes in the lung, the presence of MWCNT or asbestos, and fibrosis were noted at 40 and 80 μg MWCNT and in asbestos-exposed mice at 1 yr postexposure. To identify non-invasive miRNA biomarkers, miRNA profiling was performed in blood samples collected from MWCNT exposed mice.
Project description:Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) present a wide variety of exciting application opportunities. As MWCNT are produced in large quantities, occupational exposure and human health is of particular concern. However, there is no consensus regarding their potential harmful effects. In particular, chronic exposure to MWCNT and mechanisms of their action at protein and lipid levels are unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate effects of long-term chronic exposure to MWCNT on cellular proteome and lipidome. Since the lung is the major target organ, an in vitro normal bronchial epithelial cell model was used. To better mimic exposure at occupational settings, cells were chronically exposed for 13 weeks to low-doses of MWCNT. MWCNT-treatment increased ROS levels in cells without increasing DNA damage and resulted in differential expression of multiple apoptotic proteins. A shotgun proteomic and lipidomic analysis of the MWCNT-exposed cells showed that of amongst the >5000 identified protein s,groups; more than 200 were altered in treated cells. Functional analysis revealed association of these differentially regulated proteins in various cellular processes such as cell death and survival, cellular assembly and organization. Similarly, the lipid profile of the MWCNT treated cells showed accumulation of multiple lipid classes. This is first study to present results indicating that long-term MWCNT-exposure of human normal lung cells at occupationally relevant low-dose may alter both the proteome and the lipidome profile of target epithelial cells in the lung.
Project description:This study aims to to compare the gene transcription profiles of endothelial cells and stem cells, when they are cultured alone or when they are cultured together. Thus there are two major questions - how do the cells differ, and how do the cells influence each other's gene expression. Thus there are 4 types of sample: endothelial cell monoculture, endothelial cell coculture, stem cells monoculture, stem cell coculture. There are also 4 biological replicates (independent experiments) leading to 16 array data files.
Project description:Propionate accumulation is an important bottleneck for anaerobic degradation of organic matter. We hypothesized that propionate conversion by a novel coculture of Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans and Geobacter sulfurreducens can be an alternative strategy for propionate oxidation coupled to Fe(III) reduction. In this study, we successfully cocultured S. fumaroxidans and G. sulfurreducens on propionate and Fe(III). Proteomic analyses of this coculture provided insights into the underlying mechanisms of propionate metabolism pathway and interspecies electron transfer mechanism. Our study can be further useful in understanding syntrophic propionate degradation in bioelectrochemical and anaerobic digestion systems.
Project description:As the application of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in consumer products continues to rise, studies have expanded to determine the associated risks of exposure on human and environmental health. In particular, several lines of evidence indicate that exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) could pose a carcinogenic risk similar to asbestos fibers. However, to date the potential markers of MWCNT exposure are not yet explored in humans. Global mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in the whole blood of exposed workers, having direct contact with MWCNT aerosols for atleast 6 months (n=8), were compared with expression profiles of non-exposed (n=7) workers (e.g., proffessional and/or technical staff) from the same manufacturing facility.