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Updated: May 21, 2026

Repression of Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth In Vivo by Single-wall Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT)-delivered MALAT1 Antisense Oligos
Published on: December 13, 2018
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes induce apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway and scavenger receptor
Xiang Wang1, Jian Guo, Tian Chen
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, #38 Xueyuan Rd., Beijing 100191, China. xiangwang@uda.edu
Abstract:
We have demonstrated previously that the acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (aci-MWCNTs) and taurine functionalized MWCNTs (tau-MWCNTs) induced differential pulmonary toxicity in mice after instillation exposure. In order to compare differences of cytotoxicity between the aci- and tau-MWCNTs, RAW 264.7 cells (a murine macrophage cell line) were chosen to be exposed to the aci- and tau-MWCNTs at concentrations of 0, 5, 20, 40, and 80μg/ml for 12 or 24h respectively. The results showed that although the aci- and tau-MWCNTs induced only mild decrease in cell viability to RAW 264.7 cells, the two types of MWCNTs elicited significant increase in apoptosis and decreased ability in cellular phagocytosis. Moreover, by using the specific inhibitors, we found that the scavenger receptors (SR) and caspase-9 were actively involved in the apoptosis induced by the aci- and tau-MWCNTs. The taurine functionalized MWCNTs (tau-MWCNTs) showed less cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect to RAW 264.7 cells than those of aci-MWCNTs. Taken together, the results indicated the important role of scavenger receptors and mitochondria in the apoptosis induced by MWCNTs.
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