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  • Nano rare-earth oxides induced size-dependent vacuolization: an independent pathway from autophagy.

Nano rare-earth oxides induced size-dependent vacuolization: an independent pathway from autophagy.

International journal of nanomedicine (2010-09-22)
Ying Zhang, Chenguang Yu, Guanyi Huang, Changli Wang, Longping Wen
ABSTRACT

Four rare earth oxides have been shown to induce autophagy. Interestingly, we often noticed plentiful vacuolization, which was not always involved in this autophagic process. In this study, we investigated three other rare-earth elements, including Yttrium (Y), Ytterbium (Yb), and Lanthanum (La). Autophagic effect could be induced by all of them but only Y(2)O(3) and Yb(2)O(3) could cause massive vacuolization. Y(2)O(3) and Yb(2)O(3) treated by sonication or centrifugation to reduce particle size were used to test vacuolization level in HeLa cell lines. The results showed that rare earth oxides-induced vacuolization is size-dependent and differs from autophagic pathway. To further clarify the characteristics of this autophagic process, we used MEF Atg-5 (autophagy associated gene 5) knockout cell line, and the result showed that the autophagic process induced by rare earth oxides is Atg-5-dependent and the observed vacuolization was independent from autophagy. Similar results could also be observed in our tests on 3-methyladenine(3-MA), a well-known autophagy inhibitor. In conclusion, for the first time, we clarified the relationship between massive vacuolization and autophagic process induced by rare earth oxides and pointed out the size effect of rare earth oxides on the formation of vacuoles, which give clues to further investigation on the mechanisms underlying their biological effects.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Lanthanum(III) oxide, nanopowder, <100 nm particle size (TEM), 99% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Lanthanum(III) oxide, 99.99% trace metals basis
Supelco
Lanthanum(III) oxide, suitable for AAS, ≥99.9%
Sigma-Aldrich
Lanthanum(III) oxide, 99.999% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Lanthanum(III) oxide, ≥99.9%