Role of oxidative stress in liver toxicity induced by nickel oxide nanoparticles in rats

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the role of oxidative stress in liver toxicity induced by nickel oxide nanoparticles (nano‑NiO) in rats. Male Wistar rats received saline (control), nano‑NiO [0.015, 0.06 or 0.24 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] or micro‑NiO (0.24 mg/kg b.w.) by intratracheal instilling twice a week for 6 weeks. Liver tissues were then collected and examined for biomarkers of nitrative and oxidative stress, as well as mRNA expression of heme oxygenase (HO)‑1 and metallothionein (MT)‑1. The results demonstrated that the NiO exposure groups had increased liver wet weight and coefficient to body weight, as well as liver pathological changes, evidenced as cellular edema, hepatic sinus disappeara-nce and binucleated hepatocytes. The activities of total nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the nitric oxide content, were increased in the 0.24 mg/kg nano‑NiO group compared with the control group. The MT‑1 mRNA expression levels were downregulated, while HO‑1 mRNA was upregulated in the 0.24 mg/kg nano‑NiO exposure group compared with the control group. In addition, abnormal changes of hydroxyl radical, lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase and total antioxidative capacity were observed in the liver tissues of the 0.24 mg/kg nano‑NiO exposure group, compared with the control group. The present results therefore indicated that nano‑NiO‑induced liver toxicity may be associated with nitrative and oxidative stress in rats.

TGF‐β1 mediated Smad signaling pathway and EMT in hepatic fibrosis induced by Nano NiO in vivo and in vitro

“…Our previous studies found that Nano NiO evoked hepatocyte apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in rats . Additionally, Nano NiO exerts hepatic toxicity through oxidative stress and NF‐κB signaling pathway . Study reported that chronic liver injury results in liver fibrosis .…”

“…7 Additionally, Nano NiO exerts hepatic toxicity through oxidative stress and NF-κB signaling pathway. 6,8 Study reported that chronic liver injury results in liver fibrosis. 41…”

“…In addition, chronic liver damage promotes hepatic fibrosis in animal models . Our previous studies found that Nano NiO induced sub‐chronic liver lesion, which was associated with oxidative stress, hepatocyte apoptosis, and activation of Nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) signaling pathway . Based on the above studies, we hypothesized that Nano NiO could lead to hepatic fibrosis.…”

Nickel Nanoparticles Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats: Influence of Particle Size

“…According to Katsnelson et al (2015), NiNPs could induce higher toxicity in comparison to the larger particles. The most exposed organs to Nickel (Ni) are the liver, kidneys, brain, lungs, and testis (Capasso et al, 2014;Razavipour et al, 2015;Dumala et al, 2017;Yu et al, 2018). The most critical mechanism proposed for NiNPs-induced cytotoxicity is the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) level (Yu et al, 2018).…”

Nephrotoxicity of nickel nanoparticles in rat: Effect of different doses

“…The main mechanism suggested for the cell damage induced by NiNPs is by causing of ROS elevation [15] which is considered to be a key mechanism for the cytotoxicity of nanomaterials [16]- [17]. NiNPs was also found to induce oxidative DNA damage [18], inflammation, cell degeneration [19], cell cycle arrest [20].…”