title: Cytometric determination of novel organotellurium compound toxicity in a promyelocytic (HL-60) cell line.
abstract: The increasing use of tellurium compounds in organic synthesis, industrial applications, and as a possible component in pesticides means that its introduction into the environment will increase in the future. Therefore, knowledge of the relative toxicity and mode of toxic action of tellurium-containing compounds is important. The studies detailed here used three model compounds: diphenyl ditelluride, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ditelluride, and 4,4'-diisopropyldiphenyl ditelluride. Experiments with human promyelocytic (line HL-60) cells indicate that all of the organotellurium compounds induce an apoptotic form of cell death. The induction of apoptosis occurs in a time- and dose-dependent manner as assayed by three different analytical methods: fluorescence microscopy, gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells were evident as early as 2 h following treatment with 1x10(-6) M concentrations of the compounds. Based on these results, future care should be afforded these compounds in laboratory as well as industrial settings.
authors.affiliation: Sam Houston State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Box 2116, SHSU, Huntsville, TX 77341-2116, USA. bio_bls@shsu.edu
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liles
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Chasteen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D013691:Tellurium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: C477381:3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ditelluride; C477380:4,4'-diisopropyldiphenyl ditelluride; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C434247:diphenylditelluride; D004247:DNA; D013691:Tellurium