Localization of silica nanoparticles to lysosome causes lysosomal dysfunction in JEG-3 cells

Nanoparticles have useful functions due to the characteristics conferred on them by an increase in their specific surface area, and they have already been put into practical use in products in various industrial fields. Although exposure to nanoparticles in daily life is unavoidable for pregnant women, studies that evaluate the toxicity of nanoparticles in pregnant women are lacking. To redress this, we have focused on the placenta and have previously revealed that nanoparticles can show placental toxicity. However, there is still little knowledge regarding the behavior of nanoparticles within placental cells, which would enable us to understand their mode of action. Here, we tried to clarify the intracellular localization of silica nanoparticles in placental cells and how this affects placental toxicity. We analyzed the uptake of silica nanoparticles with a diameter of 10 nm (nSP10) into JEG-3 cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line. Flow cytometry analysis showed that nSP10 labelled with red fluorescence were taken up into JEG-3 cells, and that pre-treatment with the endocytosis inhibitor cytochalasin D inhibited their uptake, suggesting that nSP10 are taken up into JEG-3 cells by the endocytic pathway. Moreover, confocal microscopy revealed that nSP10 are prominently localized in lysosomes. Staining with LysoTracker showed that nSP10 treatment increased the acidic compartment of JEG-3 cells, suggesting lysosome accumulation and swelling. These results indicate that nSP10 taken into placental cells are transferred to lysosomes and may cause lysosomal dysfunction. •10-nm silica nanoparticles were taken up into JEG-3 cells via the endocytic pathway.•10-nm silica nanoparticles were localized in lysosomes in JEG-3 cells.•10-nm silica nanoparticles increased the number of lysosomes in JEG-3 cells.