Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2025
10:46
Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models
Published on: May 3, 2017
11.3K
Silica Nanoparticles Decrease Glutamate Uptake in Blood-Brain Barrier Components.
Fredy Sánchez-Cano1, Luisa C Hernández-Kelly1, Arturo Ortega2
1Laboratorio de Neurotoxicología, Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07300 CDMX, México.
Neurotoxicity Research
|March 4, 2024
Summary
Silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) do not harm brain cell viability but disrupt glutamate transport at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This suggests SiO2-NPs may impair BBB function, potentially contributing to neurological effects of air pollution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, essential for normal function.
- Efficient removal of glutamate by transporters in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents excitotoxicity.
- Silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) are used in biomedical applications, but their impact on the BBB is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of SiO2-NPs on glutamate transport systems at the BBB.
- To assess the cytotoxicity of SiO2-NPs on human brain endothelial and glioma cells.
- To determine if SiO2-NPs disrupt BBB function by altering glutamate transport.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cytotoxicity of SiO2-NPs on human brain endothelial (HBEC) and U-87MG cells.
- Evaluated the uptake of radio-labeled D-aspartate ([3H]-D-Asp) as a surrogate for glutamate transport.
- Measured the impact of varying SiO2-NP concentrations and exposure times on transporter activity and kinetics.
Main Results:
- SiO2-NPs did not affect cell viability at tested concentrations (0.4–20 µg/ml) and time points (3–6 h).
- Glutamate transporter activity, measured by [3H]-D-Asp uptake, was sodium-dependent and inhibited by glutamate.
- SiO2-NP exposure dose-dependently decreased [3H]-D-Asp uptake in both cell types, indicating impaired transporter function.
Conclusions:
- SiO2-NPs do not exhibit cytotoxicity to BBB components but significantly impair glutamate transport.
- Exposure to SiO2-NPs reduces transporter catalytic efficiency, suggesting altered transporter affinity.
- These findings indicate that SiO2-NPs can disrupt BBB function, potentially contributing to the neurotoxic effects of air pollution.
