氧化铜纳米颗粒（CuONPs）有目的地用于抑制细菌的生长，藻类,和真菌。已经在体内和体外进行了一些关于CuONPs的有益和有害作用的研究，但是有一些研究解释了CuONPs在人气道上皮细胞（HEp-2）中的毒性。因此,本研究的目的是研究CuONPs在HEp-2细胞中的剂量依赖性毒性。暴露于1-40µg/mlCuONPs24小时后，用MTT法和中性红法检测细胞毒性。为了确定HEp-2细胞的细胞毒性机制，额外的氧化应激测定(LPO和GSH)，产生的ROS的量，MMP的丢失，caspase酶活性，和凋亡相关基因使用qRT-PCR进行。CuONPs在HEp-2细胞中表现出剂量依赖性细胞毒性，IC50值为~10μg/ml。HEp-2细胞的形态也以剂量依赖性方式改变。氧化应激在CuONP诱导的细胞毒性中的参与通过增加的LPO水平和ROS产生来证明,以及GSH和MMP水平降低。此外，激活的半胱天冬酶和改变的凋亡基因支持CuONPs诱导HEp-2细胞凋亡的能力。总的来说,本研究表明CuONPs可通过氧化应激引起HEp-2细胞凋亡;CuONPs可能对人类健康构成风险，应谨慎处理和使用。
Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are purposefully used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Several studies on the beneficial and harmful effects of CuONPs have been conducted in vivo and in vitro, but there are a few studies that explain the toxicity of CuONPs in human airway epithelial cells (HEp-2). As a result, the purpose of this
study is to look into the dose-dependent toxicity of CuONPs in HEp-2 cells. After 24 h of exposure to 1-40 µg/ml CuONPs, the MTT and neutral red assays were used to test for cytotoxicity. To determine the mechanism(s) of cytotoxicity in HEp-2 cells, additional oxidative stress assays (LPO and GSH), the amount of ROS produced, the loss of MMP, caspase enzyme activities, and apoptosis-related genes were performed using qRT-PCR. CuONPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HEp-2 cells, with an IC50 value of ~ 10 μg/ml. The morphology of HEp-2 cells was also altered in a dose-dependent manner. The involvement of oxidative stress in CuONP-induced cytotoxicity was demonstrated by increased LPO levels and ROS generation, as well as decreased levels of GSH and MMP. Furthermore, activated caspase enzymes and altered apoptotic genes support CuONPs\' ability to induce apoptosis in HEp-2 cells. Overall, this
study demonstrated that CuONPs can cause apoptosis in HEp-2 cells via oxidative stress; therefore, CuONPs may pose a risk to human health and should be handled and used with caution.
