title: Different molecular capacity in the induction of apoptosis by polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in rat renal tubular cell cultures.
abstract: The effects of a commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture (Aroclor 1248) and two individual PCB congeners were evaluated on rat renal proximal tubule culture cell viability and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation (DNA ladder) characteristic of apoptosis. Treatment with Aroclor 1248 caused the loss of cell viability and promoted apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The two PCB congeners assessed can also induce apoptosis. However, the extent of apoptosis generated was greater for the non-ortho-substituted planar congener (3,3',4,4-tetrachlorobiphenyl) than for the di-ortho-substituted nonplanar congener (2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl). This correlated with the loss of cell viability since the planar compound is much more cytotoxic. The results suggest a different molecular mechanism in the induction of apoptosis by planar or nonplanar PCB congeners.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares-Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pérez-Reyes
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Alonso
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Aparicio
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Recio
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pérez-Albarsanz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001140:Aroclors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001140:Aroclors; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C028617:aroclor 1248; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls