Modulation of NF-kB Pathway by Gold Nanoparticles in B Cells

Abstract

<p>Almost all cells express NF-KB, which can be activated or inhibited in response to over 200 chemical, physiological and environmental stimuli. Gold compounds (for instance, aurothiomalate and aurothioglucose) have been shown to block the activity of IKB kinase, through their interaction with a cysteine residue on the enzyme, leading to inhibition of NF-KB activation. Since gold nanoparticles (colloidal gold) also have an affinity for thiol groups, this study hypothesizes that the metal sensitive IKB kinase can act as a potential target for gold nanoparticles to bind and modulate the activity of NF-KB. This study aims at providing a better understanding of how gold nanoparticles affect the NF-KB signaling pathway, using a murine B cell line as the model system. Preliminary data, using reporter assays, suggested that gold nanoparticles downregulate the activity of NF-KB in B cells and increased the mitochondrial function in the B cell line being tested. Since NF-kB has been implicated in significant cellular functions involved in immune system and stress responses, these results suggest that the function of B cells and perhaps other cells systems could potentially be compromised by gold nanoparticles. With the ever expanding list of biomedical applications such as biosensors, real time monitoring of cellular environment, it is especially important to assess the impact of gold nanoparticles on the cellular functions before they can be safely used for nanomedicine.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>