title: Mitochondrial changes during the apoptotic process of HeLa cells exposed to cisplatin.
abstract: HeLa cells undergo apoptosis after exposure to cisplatin. Since mitochondria have recently been proposed as a probable effector of this type of cell death, we performed an analysis using the fluorescent cation rhodamine 123, which is transported actively by this organelle. Cisplatin induces a decrease in the mitochondrial staining, as assessed by cytofluorometric analysis. Microscopic analysis demonstrated that this effect was accompanied by damage of the mitochondria. These features were not exclusive of cisplatin, as other antineoplasic agents (taxol, etoposide) elicited similar effects. These results point toward the notion of a general effect of antineoplasic drugs over the mitochondria during induction of apoptotic cell death.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, D. F. emv@hp9000a1.uam.mx
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melendez-Zajgla
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Espinoza
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005047:Etoposide; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin