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  2. Non-cytotoxic silver nanoparticle levels perturb human embryonic stem cell-dependent specification of the cranial placode in part via FGF signaling

Non-cytotoxic silver nanoparticle levels perturb human embryonic stem cell-dependent specification of the cranial placode in part via FGF signaling

  • J Hazard Mater. 2020 Jul 5;393:122440. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122440.
Bowen Hu 1 Renjun Yang 1 Zhanwen Cheng 1 Shaojun Liang 1 Shengxian Liang 1 Nuoya Yin 2 Francesco Faiola 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
  • 2 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. Electronic address: nyyin@rcees.ac.cn.
  • 3 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. Electronic address: faiola@rcees.ac.cn.
Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are compounds used in numerous consumer products because of their desirable optical, conductive and Antibacterial properties. However, several in vivo and in vitro studies have raised concerns about their potential developmental toxicity. Here, we employed a human embryonic stem cell model to evaluate the potential ectodermal toxicity of AgNPs, at human relevant concentrations. Among the four major ectodermal lineages tested, only cranial placode specification was significantly affected by AgNPs and AgNO3, morphology-wise and in the expression of specific markers, such as SIX3 and PAX6. Mechanistically, we found that the effects of AgNPs on the cranial placode differentiation were probably due to Ag ion leakage and mediated by the FGF signaling. Thus, AgNPs may have the ability to alter the early stages of embryonic development.

Keywords

Cranial placode; Developmental toxicity; Ectoderm; Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs); Stem cell toxicology.

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