Multi-walled carbon nanotubes induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in human lung cancer cell line-A549

Multi-walled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNTs)-induced apoptotic changes were studied in human lung epithelium cell line-A549. Non-cytotoxic doses of MWCNTs were identified using tetrazolium bromide salt (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays. Cells were exposed to MWCNTs (0.5–100 μg/ml) for 6–72 h. Internalization and characterization of CNTs was performed by electron microscopy. Apoptotic changes were estimated by nuclear condensation, DNA laddering, and confirmed by expression of associated markers: p53, p21WAF1/CIP1, Bax, Bcl2 and activated caspase-3. MWCNTs induced the production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde along with significant decrease in the activity of catalase and glutathione. MWCNTs-induced ROS generation was found not to be associated with the mitochondrial activity. In general, the changes were significant at 10 and 50 μg/ml only. Results indicate the involvement of oxidative stress and apoptosis in A549 cells exposed to MWCNTs. Our studies provide insights of the mechanisms involved in MWCNTs-induced apoptosis at cellular level.