Multi-walled carbon nanotube induces nitrative DNA damage in human lung epithelial cells via HMGB1-RAGE interaction and Toll-like receptor 9 activation

BACKGROUND: Carbon nanotube (CNT) is used for various industrial purposes, but exhibits carcinogenic effects in experimental animals. Chronic inflammation in the respiratory system may participate in CNT-induced carcinogenesis. 8-Nitroguanine (8-nitroG) is a mutagenic DNA lesion formed during inflammation. We have previously reported that multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) induced 8-nitroG formation in lung epithelial cells and this process involved endocytosis. To clarify the mechanism of CNT-induced carcinogenesis, we examined the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9, which resides in endosomes and lysosomes, in 8-nitroG formation in human lung epithelial cell lines. METHODS: We performed immunocytochemistry to examine 8-nitroG formation in A549 and HBEpC cells treated with MWCNT with a length of 1-2 μm (CNT-S) or 5-15 μm (CNT-L) and a diameter of 20-40 nm. We examined inhibitory effects of endocytosis inhibitors, small interfering RNA (siRNA) for TLR9, and antibodies against high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) on 8-nitroG formation. The release of HMGB1 and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) into the culture supernatant from MWCNT-treated cells was examined by ELISA and fluorometric analysis, respectively. The association of these molecules was examined by double immunofluorescent staining and co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: CNT-L significantly increased 8-nitroG formation at 0.05 μg/ml in A549 cells and its intensity reached a maximum at 1 μg/ml. CNT-L tended to induce stronger cytotoxicity and 8-nitroG formation than CNT-S. Endocytosis inhibitors, TLR9 siRNA and antibodies against HMGB1 and RAGE largely reduced MWCNT-induced 8-nitroG formation. MWCNT increased the release of HMGB1 and dsDNA from A549 cells into culture supernatant. The culture supernatant of MWCNT-exposed cells induced 8-nitroG formation in fresh A549 cells. Double immunofluorescent staining and co-immunoprecipitation showed that TLR9 was associated with HMGB1 and RAGE in lysosomes of MWCNT-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: MWCNT induces injury or necrosis of lung epithelial cells, which release HMGB1 and DNA into the extracellular space. The HMGB1-DNA complex binds to RAGE on neighboring cells and then CpG DNA is recognized by TLR9 in lysosomes, leading to generation of nitric oxide and 8-nitroG formation. This is the first study demonstrating that TLR9 and related molecules participate in MWCNT-induced genotoxicity and may contribute to carcinogenesis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-016-0127-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.