Cadmium induces apoptosis differentially on immune system cell lines.
We investigate the role of cadmium-induced apoptosis in the immune system, studying the apoptotic effect of Cd2+ in three human cell lines, the T-cell line CCRF-CEM, the B-cell line Raji and the lymphoblastoid cell line Molt-3. Cd2+ was found to be dose-dependently toxic for these cell lines, after 18 h incubation. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) for CCRF-CEM was 25 +/- 20 microM, for Molt-3 was 22.5 +/- 2.4 microM, and for Raji was 13.5 +/- 2.2 microM. DNA electrophoresis and quantitation of apoptosis after 18 h incubation with different Cd2+ concentrations was carried out. In CCRF-CEM cells, apoptosis was detected at 10 microM, reaching a maximum at 30 microM. In Molt-3, apoptosis was detected at 10 microM, increased thereafter and a plateau effect was observed from 30 to 50 microM Cd2+. In Raji, apoptosis was detected at 5 microM, while a plateau effect was observed from 20 to 30 microM Cd2+. The above results indicated that Raji cells were more sensitive to cadmium compared to both CCRF-CEM and Molt-3 cells, suggesting a differential Cd2+-induced apoptotic effect, which may disturb the immune system normal growth and development.
University Research Institute for the Study and Treatment of Childhood Genetic and Malignant Diseases, University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Greece.
G T
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Tsangaris
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Tzortzatou-Stathopoulou
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D002104:Cadmium