Apoptosis and necrosis induced by sulfur mustard in Hela cells.
OBJECTIVE
To study the apoptotic effect of sulfur mustard (SM) on Hela cells.


METHODS
Exponentially growing Hela cells were treated with SM at various concentrations for 3 h, then apoptosis was examined by electron-microscope, DNA gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry.


RESULTS
SM 1 mumol.L-1 arrested cell growth. After treatment with SM 10-100 mumol.L-1, cells were mainly blocked at G1-phase with apoptosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from cells treated with SM revealed "DNA Ladder." About 33% of the Hela cells showed apoptosis 12 h after 3-h treatment with SM 100 mumol.L-1 as determined by flow cytometry and the S-phase cells were more susceptible. However, SM 1000 mumol.L-1 caused marked necrosis in Hela cells.


CONCLUSIONS
SM caused 2 distinct forms of cell death, apoptosis or necrosis, in Hela cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
Sun
J
J
Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Wang
Y X
YX
Sun
M J
MJ
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009336:Necrosis
D009151:Mustard Gas