[Effects of nanoscale titanium dioxide on intercellular gap junction communication in human lung fibroblasts]

To investigate the effects of nanoscale titanium dioxide (Nano-TiO(2)) on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between human lung fibroblasts.

Human lung fibroblasts were exposed to two different sizes Nano-TiO(2) (25 nm and 80 nm) for 24 hours at the concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/L, respectively. The GJIC between cells was measured by using fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) assay.

The results showed that GJIC between cells was significantly inhibited both by 25 nm and 80 nm Nano-TiO(2) in a dose-dependent manner. The fluorescence recovery rate was 20.81%+/-1.93% in control group, 7.26%+/-0.91% (P<0.05) in 25 nm 80 mg/L group and 9.94%+/-2.08% (P<0.05) in 80 nm 80 mg/L group. At the same concentration, the inhibitory effect of 25 nm Nano-TiO(2) on GJIC was slightly stronger than that of 80 nm Nano-TiO(2).

Nano-TiO(2) with different sizes can inhibit GJIC between human lung fibroblasts.