Thrombospondin‐1 and microRNA‐1 expression in response to multiwalled carbon nanotubes in alveolar epithelial cells

Thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1) is a glycoprotein that plays a role in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Previously, we have shown that multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) regulate ECM components TGFβ and its target Col3A1 in alveolar epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of MWCNT on TSP‐1 and microRNA‐1 (miR‐1) in the regulation of TGFβ in ECM remodeling using alveolar epithelial A549 cells. A549 cells were treated with MWCNT (20 or 50 µg/mL) for 6 or 24 h and the expression of TSP‐1 and miR‐1, and the exogenous miR‐1 effect on cell morphology were analyzed. MWCNT induced in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner the expression of TSP‐1. miR‐1 was suppressed by MWCNT after 6 or 24 h of treatment regardless of the dose. TSP‐1 and miR‐1 negatively correlated with each other, r = −0.58. Exogenous administration of miR‐1 induced alveolar epithelial cell morphology changes including cell clustering, whereas inhibition of miR‐1 induced less cell to cell contact, cell rounding, and cellular projections. IntAct molecular network interactions analysis revealed that TSP‐1 interacts with 21 molecular factors including ECM genes, and molecules. These results indicate a relationship between that TSP‐1, MWCNT, and TGFβ, and suggest TSP‐1 may play a role in MWCNT‐induced TGFβ and ECM remodeling. Moreover, these data also suggest an inverse relationship between TSP‐1 and miR‐1 and a potential role of miR‐1 in MWCNT‐induced fibrotic signaling. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1596–1606, 2017.