Zhang X, Peng Z, Wang Q, Zhang W, Bu Q, Sun D. Copper oxide nanoparticles induce pulmonary inflammation via triggering cellular cuproptosis.
Toxicology 2025;
514:154131. [PMID:
40180017 DOI:
10.1016/j.tox.2025.154131]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2025] [Revised: 03/24/2025] [Accepted: 03/31/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025]
Abstract
Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are increasingly used in various industrial fields, and the toxicity of CuO NPs raises concerns. However, the CuO NPs-induced pulmonary inflammation and the underlying mechanism have not been fully illustrated. Cellular cuproptosis provides a new perspective to elucidate the toxicity of CuO NPs. Here, we exposed C57BL/6 mice and murine alveolar macrophage cells (MH-S) to CuO NPs, respectively. A suspension of 2 mg/mL CuO NPs was directly once administered by intratracheal instillation, and mice were sacrificed on day 7. The histopathology results showed that CuO NPs induced pulmonary inflammation in C57BL/6 mice. CuO NPs increased Cu2 + levels by 203.0 % in mouse lung tissues. Also, CuO NPs increased the cuproptosis-related indicators of ferredoxin (FDX1), dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (DLST), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (DLAT) and Cu transporter 1 (CTR1) in both mouse lung tissues and MH-S cells. Transcript sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics indicated that CuO NPs induced cellular cuproptosis and inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro. Interleukin-17a (IL-17A) was remarkably increased in the process of CuO NPs-induced cellular cuproptosis. Additionally, interference of FDX1 reduced cellular cuproptosis and decreased the release of IL-17A. In summary, CuO NPs increased the accumulation of intracellular Cu2+ and the expressions of cuproptosis-related proteins, induced FDX1-mediated cuproptosis, and led to pulmonary inflammation in mice. This study highlights the respiratory toxicity of CuO NPs and reveals a unique cuproptosis-driven mechanism underlying the CuO NPs-induced pulmonary inflammation.
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