Cellular uptake of silica and gold nanoparticles induces early activation of nuclear receptor NR4A1

The approval of new nanomedicines requires a deeper understanding of the interaction between cells and nanoparticles (NPs). Silica (SiO₂) and gold (Au) NPs have shown great potential in biomedical applications, such as the delivery of therapeutic agents, diagnostics, and biosensors. NP-cell interaction and internalization can trigger several cellular responses, including gene expression regulation. The identification of differentially expressed genes in response to NP uptake contributes to a better understanding of the cellular processes involved, including potential side effects. We investigated gene regulation in human macrophages and lung epithelial cells after acute exposure to spherical 60 nm SiO₂ NPs. SiO₂ NPs uptake did not considerably affect gene expression in epithelial cells, whereas five genes were up-regulated in macrophages. These genes are principally related to inflammation, chemotaxis, and cell adhesion. NR4A1, an important modulator of inflammation in macrophages, was found to be up-regulated. The expression of this gene was increased upon 1 h of macrophage exposure to spherical 50 nm AuNPs and 200 nm spherical SiO₂ NPs. NR4A1 can thus be an important immediate regulator of inflammation provoked by NP uptake in macrophages.