[The relationship between cadmium-induced inhibition of splenic lymphocyte function and cell apoptosis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between cadmium-induced inhibition of splenic lymphocyte function and cell apoptosis in vitro.


METHODS
The splenic lymphocytes of mice were exposed to 3.10, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00 micromol/L of cadmiun chloride (CdCl(2)) for various time period, to measure the lymphocyte transformation by MTT colorimetric assay and to detect the apoptosis in splenocytes by DNA agarose electrophoresis and flow cytometry (FACS).


RESULTS
CdCl(2) could significantly inhibit the function of lymphocyte transformation in a dose-response pattern at concentrations of 25.00 and 50.00 micromol/L, with inhibition rates of 50% and 78% in ConA-stimulating group and 39% and 55% in LPS-stimulating group, respectively. CdCl(2) could also induce apoptosis of splenic cells at concentrations of 12.50 to 50.00 micromol/L.


RESULTS
of FACS analysis showed 30% - 60% of cell apoptosis. Higher concentration of CdCl(2) could also cause reduction of cell survival. Effect of Cd-induced apoptosis was earlier and at a lower concentration of CdCl(2) than that of Cd-induced inhibition of lymphocyte transformation.


CONCLUSIONS
CdCl(2) could induce cell apoptosis in vitro, which was one of the mechanisms of its suppression of lymphocyte function.
Feng
F
F
Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Xue
B
B
Zhang
X
X
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D002104:Cadmium