title: Diverse effects of three furocoumarins on human lymphocyte proliferation.
abstract: The biological effects of three furocoumarins on the proliferation of human normal peripheral blood lymphocytes have been investigated. Mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes were assayed "in vitro" by measuring 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation in the presence and in the absence of 15-30 microM 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs), trimethylangelicin (TMA) and psoralen (PSR) with and without UV-A irradiation (365 nm). The three furocoumarins differ in their ability to form mono- and bi-functional adducts with DNA pyrimidine bases and in producing reactive species of oxygen. At low furocoumarin doses and short times of UV-A irradiation (15-30 sec) used in the present study, 3-CPs did not affect 3H-TdR incorporation in PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes, TMA strongly inhibited 3H-TdR incorporation, while, unexpectedly, PSR increased 3H-TdR incorporation in the absence of irradiation, likely acting, under these experimental conditions, as a co-mitogen.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Pathology, C.N.R. Center for the Study of Physiology of Mitochondria, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dall'Acqua
mesh_terms: D005363:Ficusin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D011564:Furocoumarins; C017104:3-carbethoxypsoralen; D005363:Ficusin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate