Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used increasingly often in the biomedical field, but their potential deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system remain to be elucidated. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects, and the underlying mechanisms of these effects, of AgNPs on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), as well as the protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against cytotoxicity induced by AgNPs. In this study, we found that exposure to AgNPs affects the morphology and function of endothelial cells which manifests as decreased cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis ability. Mechanistically, AgNPs can induce excessive cellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to damage to cellular sub-organs such as mitochondria and lysosomes. More importantly, our data suggest that AgNPs causes autophagy defect, inhibits mitophagy, and finally activates the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis signaling pathway and evokes cell death. Interestingly, treatment with ROS scavenger-NAC can effectively suppress AgNP-induced endothelial damage.Our results indicate that ROS-mediated mitochondria-lysosome injury and autophagy dysfunction are potential factors of endothelial toxicity induced by AgNPs. This study may provide new evidence for the cardiovascular toxicity of AgNPs and serve as a reference for the safe use of nanoparticles(NPs) in the future.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the influence of AgNPs intratracheal instillation on mitochondrial fission in aortic endothelial cells of rats and to explore the therapeutic effects of sodium selenite (Se). Animals and Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=8): Control group (A), AgNPs exposure group (B), Se treated group (C), and Se+ AgNPs treated group (D). Rats in groups B and D received one dose of intratracheal instillation of AgNPs, while groups A and C received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl intratracheally. Rats in groups C and D were also intraperitoneally injected with sodium selenite for 7 days immediately after the AgNPs exposure. Morphological changes of the aorta were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and electron microscopy. Masson’s Trichrome Staining assayed collagen deposition in the aorta. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, caspase-3 activity, and mitochondrial fission markers were analyzed. Results: Exposure to AgNPs increased collagen deposition and caused ultrastructural damage to endothelial cells in the aorta, including reduction of cytosolic contents, dissolution of mitochondrial cristae, and swollen mitochondria. Levels of ROS and cleaved caspase-3 increased moderately in AgNPs group (p< 0.05 vs Control). Mitochondrial fission markers Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1) in the aortic tissue homogenate of the AgNPs group nearly doubled the values of those in Control group (p< 0.05 vs Control). Se alleviated AgNPs-induced ultrastructure changes and this effect was associated with suppressed ROS accumulation, inhibited caspase-3 activation, and attenuated mitochondrial fission. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that AgNPs induced oxidative stress, caspase 3 activation, and mitochondrial fission are linked to the morphological alterations of the aortic endothelial cells; and these adverse effects resulted from AgNPs can be alleviated by sodium selenite, suggesting that selenite could be used as a protective agent against AgNPs toxicity.