Alteration of MicroRNA Expression Profiles by Surface-Modified Gold Nanoparticles in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

MicroRNAs that bind to mRNA are important post-transcriptional regulators that control gene expression by degradation or suppressing translation of target mRNAs. Several studies indicate that nanoparticles (NPs) induce alterations in microRNA expression relating to cell processes including cell development and progressive diseases. However, the alteration of microRNA expression by surface-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in A549 cells has not been reported. In order to investigate the patterns of microRNA expression, we analyzed data from microRNA arrays using cells treated with citrate- or chitosan-AuNPs. The results demonstrate that the expression of microRNA (hsa-miR-198) in cells treated with citrate-AuNPs significantly differed from non-treated cells, and the expression of 16 microRNAs in cells treated with chitosan-AuNPs significantly differed from non-treated cells. Furthermore, the predicted target genes of microRNAs were related to proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell differentiation, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase, ErbB, and Wnt signaling pathway. Thus, the alteration of microRNA expression profiles by citrate- and chitosan-AuNPs would mediate the regulation of the cell processes including cell survival, migration, and differentiation.