Copper-based nanoparticles induce high toxicity in leukemic HL60 cells.

From the increasing societal use of nanoparticles (NPs) follows the necessity to understand their potential toxic effects. This requires an in-depth understanding of the relationship between their physicochemical properties and their toxicological behavior. The aim of the present work was to study the toxicity of Cu and CuO NPs toward the leukemic cell line HL60. The toxicity was explored in terms of mitochondrial damage, DNA damage, oxidative DNA damage, cell death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Particle characteristics and copper release were specifically investigated in order to gain an improved understanding of prevailing toxic mechanisms. The Cu NPs revealed higher toxicity compared with both CuO NPs and dissolved copper (CuCl2), as well as a more rapid copper release compared with CuO NPs. Mitochondrial damage was induced by Cu NPs already after 2 h exposure. Cu NPs induced oxidation at high levels in an acellular ROS assay, and a small increase of intracellular ROS was observed. The increase of DNA damage was limited. CuO NPs did not induce any mitochondrial damage up to 6 h of exposure. No acellular ROS was induced by the CuO NPs, and the levels of intracellular ROS and DNA damage were limited after 2 h exposure. Necrosis was the main type of cell death observed after 18 h exposure to CuO NP and dissolved copper.

The effect of sea buckthorn supplement on oral health, inflammation, and DNA damage in hemodialysis patients: a double-blinded, randomized crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease is associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, malnutrition, poor oral health, and mouth dryness. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of sea buckthorn oil (SBO) extract, which is rich in vitamins, phytochemicals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, on oxidative stress, saliva production, and inflammation in hemodialysis patients. DESIGN SETTING AND SUBJECTS: This was a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled crossover study (2 × 8 weeks, 4-week washout). The study subjects were hemodialysis patients (n = 45) recruited from the Department of Renal Medicine at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients received 4 capsules per day, each containing 500 mg of SBO or placebo, for 8 weeks. They were then crossed over to the other treatment after a 4-week washout period. Salivary gland biopsies, saliva, and blood samples were collected before and after each treatment period. Main outcomes were DNA breaks and oxidative DNA lesions in minor accessory salivary glands, salivary flow rates, and inflammation markers in blood (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, antitrypsin, orosomucoid in plasma, leukocytes in blood). Blood markers including creatinine, urea in plasma, and hemoglobin in blood were investigated. RESULTS: The results showed no significant changes in DNA breaks, oxidative DNA lesions, salivary flow rates, or inflammation after SBO supplementation. However, plasma levels of phosphate and sodium increased and plasma levels of iron decreased. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, SBO supplementation as performed in this study did not protect against oxidative stress, nor improve oral health or inflammation status in hemodialysis patients.

DNA damage in salivary gland tissue in patients with chronic kidney disease, measured by the comet assay.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this observational study was to investigate the relationship between DNA damage in minor accessory salivary glands, hyposalivation, and inflammation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). STUDY DESIGN: DNA strand breaks and oxidative DNA lesions in salivary glands, inflammatory markers, and uremic state were measured in 79 patients with CKD and matched controls. RESULTS: CKD patients not yet on dialysis had significantly more, and dialysis patients significantly less, DNA strand breaks in salivary tissue compared with controls. All measured inflammatory markers were higher in patients with CKD compared with controls. Salivary secretion rates were significantly lower in dialysis patients compared with controls. A high level of salivary secretion rate at rest significantly predicted a high level of DNA strand breaks in patients with CKD. CONCLUSIONS: Dialysis patients had fewer DNA strand breaks in minor accessory salivary glands than controls, suggesting that peripheral tissue is differently affected by CKD than leukocytes.