title: Does potassium dichromate induce apoptosis in lymphocytes?
abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of apoptosis in the human peripheral blood lymphocytes after treatment with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), a potential occupational carcinogenic and mutagenic agent. Lymphocytes were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin, cultured for 72 h and incubated with either 0.2 mM or 0.4 mM K2Cr2O7 for the last 24 h or 48 h of culture. The condensation and margination of chromatin with emerging 'half-moon' structure, characteristic of apoptosis were observed. Phosphatidylserine displaced from the inner to outer side of the cellular membrane in 54% of cells after a 48-h incubation with 0.4 mM K2Cr2O7 (annexin-V+/PI-); 39% of these cells were of late apoptotic--secondary necrotic form (annexin-V+/PI+). Following the agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, a 'ladder pattern' typical of apoptosis, was found. The results of the present study demonstrate that K2Cr2O7 can induce in the human peripheral blood lymphocytes changes similar to apoptotic ones.
authors: Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lódź, Poland.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Walter
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mankiewicz
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Woźniak
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Majewska
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Baj
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004249:DNA Damage; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D011192:Potassium Dichromate