title: Free radical mediated cytotoxicity of desferrioxamine.
abstract: Toxic effects of desferrioxamine (DFO) upon cell growth were assayed with continuous bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling and bivariate ethidium bromide/Hoechst 33258 flow cytometry. At 5% oxygen DFO caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, which was potentiated at 20% oxygen, and by cumene hydroperoxide but not by paraquat. An irreversible arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle was the cell-kinetic mechanism underlying this growth inhibition. The G2 arrest was not dependent upon the BrdU concentration in the medium, thus ruling out a direct attack of a free radical on thymidine residues. The observed cytotoxicity of DFO cautions against its use in the treatment of conditions of elevated oxidative stress.
authors: Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, West Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Poot
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Rabinovitch
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hoehn
mesh_terms: D006690:Bisbenzimidazole; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000633:toxicity; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D003676:Deferoxamine; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole; D010100:Oxygen