Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) has been shown to have toxicological effects such as lethality and reproductivity in many species, including fish and drosophila. It also has been reported that AgNP concerned as a putative carcinogen induces DNA damage and modulates cell cycle arrest. However, the molecular mechanism of AgNP toxicity has not been fully elucidated yet. In this study, we employed Cyprinus carpio as a bioindicator organism to investigate effect of AgNP (silver nanoparticles with citrate capped) on liver-specific enzymatic activity and global gene expression change. Particle morphology and size distribution were analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy. C. carpio was exposed to a range of concentration of AgNP for 96 hrs. Biochemical analysis was carried out to determine the enzymatic concentration of 11 factors including NH3, GLU and GOT. Gene expression profiling through the DNA microarray also was performed in C. carpio exposed to AgNP. Our microarray data showed that numerous genes, including glutathion S-transferase, cytochrome c, cytochrome oxidase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly altered in response to AgNP exposure. Biomarkers discovered from C. carpio microarray can be valuable for risk assessment of AgNP in aquatic system. (Cancer Prev Res 16, 147-154, 2011)

Keywords: Silver nanoparticle, Cyprinus carpio, Microarray, Biomarker