Advances in nanotechnology have given rise to the many potentiall applications in biomedical area. However, our understanding in the risks and health safety of nanomaterials is still not complete and various investigations are ongoing. In this study, we show that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) significantly altered the expression of 19 genes in human fetal lung fibroblasts. Among the differentially expressed genes, up-regulation of microRNA-155 (miR-155) was observed concomitant with down-regulation of the PROS1 gene. Silencing of miR-155 established PROS1 as its possible target gene. DNA methylation profiling analysis of the PROS1 gene revealed no changes in the methylation status of this gene in AuNP-treated fibroblasts. At the ultrastructural level, chromatin condensation and re-organization was observed in the nucleus of fibroblasts exposed to AuNPs. The findings provide further insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying toxicity of AuNPs and their impact on epigenetic processes.

Epigenetic regulation of <i>PROS1</i> gene in lung fibroblasts induced by gold nanoparticles

244th National Meeting (2012)

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Epigenetic regulation of PROS1 gene in lung fibroblasts induced by gold nanoparticles