Silver nanoparticles-mediated G2/M cycle arrest of renal epithelial cells is associated with NRF2-GSH signaling

Silver nanoparticles (nAg) are known to evoke reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and consequent cell damage. The transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) controls both the basal and inducible expression of multiple antioxidant genes. This study was aimed to investigate the role of NRF2 in nAg-induced renal epithelial cell damage. nAg treatment intensified DNA damage and G2/M cell cycle arrest by nAg in NRF2 knockdown HK-2 (NRF2i) compared with the control cells. As a signaling mechanism associated with nAg-mediated growth arrest, the levels of phospho-CDC25C and phospho-CDC2 were significantly increased in NRF2i. Target gene analysis revealed that nAg-mediated increase in γ-glutamate cysteine ligase expression is NRF2-dependent: nAg-treated NRF2i showed a reduction in glutathione (GSH) content and elevation in ROS level in comparison with the control cells. Additionally, pretreatment of N-acetylcystein in nAg-treated NRF2i alleviated ROS-mediated DNA damage and G2/M cell cycle arrest, while GSH depletion exacerbated DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in the control cells. Taken together, these results suggest that NRF2-mediated GSH increase plays a protective role in nAg-induced DNA damage and subsequent G2/M cell cycle arrest in human renal epithelial cells.

► Silver nanoparticle-induced DNA damage and growth arrest are profound in NRF2 knockdown renal epithelial cells.
► Silver nanoparticles-induced reactive oxygen species activate G2/M checkpoint in NRF2 knockdown cells.
► NRF2-depedent GSH increase protects renal cells from silver nanoparticle-mediated ROS increase and G2/M cycle arrest.