Fig. 8

Schematic diagram of the possible molecular mechanisms involved in Nano-ZnO-induced DNA damage and EMT. Briefly, Nano-ZnO causes cytotoxicity and DNA damage with decreased p53 expression and the DNA damage repair-related proteins. p53 silencing increased the circRNA_0085439 expression and the formation of circRNA_0085439/Ku70 complex, which decreased the Ku70 protein. DNA damage repair became defective. Moreover, the Nano-ZnO can cause EMT through decreasing E-cadherin and increasing N-cadherin and Vimentin expression levels