Oxidative stress and immunotoxicity induced by graphene oxide in zebrafish

Abstract

a b s t r a c tGraphene oxide (GO) has been extensively explored as a promising nanomaterial for applications in biology because of its unique properties. Therefore, systematic investigation of GO toxicity is essential to determine its fate in the environment and potential adverse effects. In this study, acute toxicity, oxidative stress and immunotoxicity of GO were investigated in zebrafish. No obvious acute toxicity was observed when zebrafish were exposed to 1, 5, 10 or 50 mg/L GO for 14 days. However, a number of cellular alterations were detected by histological analysis of the liver and intestine, including vacuolation, loose arrangement of cells, histolysis and disintegration of cell boundaries. As evidence for oxidative stress, malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were increased and glutathione content was decreased in the liver after treatment with GO. GO treatment induced an immune response in zebrafish, as demonstrated by increased expression of tumor necrosis factor ␣, interleukin-1 ␤, and interleukin-6 in the spleen. Our findings demonstrated that GO administration in an aquatic system can cause oxidative stress and immune toxicity in adult zebrafish. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immune toxicity of GO in zebrafish.

Dispersible MoS2 micro-sheets induced a proinflammatory response and apoptosis in the gills and liver of adult zebrafish

“…26 For instance, Chen et al reported that exposure to graphene oxide led to the cellular alterations, such as vacuolation, histolysis and disintegration of cell boundaries, in the liver and intestine of zebrash. 27 In consistent with the ndings reported by Chen et al, 27 we also found that exposures to high concentrations of CS-MoS 2 micro-sheets (10 mg L À1 and 20 mg L…”

“…37 Consistent with the ndings reported by Chen et al, 27 we further found that the expressions of these three cytokines were remarkably increased aer exposure to a high concentration of CS-MoS 2 micro-sheets (20 mg L À1 ), which indicated that high concentration of CSMoS 2 micro-sheets caused strong proinammatory response in gill and liver (Fig. 5).…”

Toxicity of graphene-family nanoparticles: a general review of the origins and mechanisms

“…ROS act as second messengers in many intracellular signalling cascades and lead to cellular macromolecular damage, such as membrane lipid breakdown, DNA fragmentation, protein denaturation and mitochondrial dysfunction, which greatly influence cell metabolism and signalling [175–177]. The interactions of GO with cells can lead to excessive ROS generation, which is the first step in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, ageing, and mutagenesis [83, 122].…”

“…The interactions of GO with cells can lead to excessive ROS generation, which is the first step in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, ageing, and mutagenesis [83, 122]. Oxidative stress had a significant role in GO-induced acute lung injury [30], and the inflammatory responses caused by oxidative stress often emerged upon exposure to GFNs [133, 177, 178]. The activity of SOD and GSH-PX decreased after exposed to GO in a time- and dosage-dependent manner [82, 106, 119].…”

Graphene-Based Nanomaterials Toxicity in Fish

“…Two month old zebrafish were exposed to 1, 5, 10, and 50 mg/L GO for 14 days with a 50% static renewal of the medium every day (Chen et al 2016). No obvious acute toxicity was observed; however, histological analysis indicated that in liver and intestine, cellular vacuolation, loose arrangement, histolysis, and disintegration of cellular boundaries occurred (Chen et al 2016).…”