title: T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis in rat keratinocyte primary cultures.
abstract: T-2 toxin, a kind of trichothecene mycotoxins produced by the genus Fusarium, induces apoptosis in basal keratinocytes when topically applied to the dorsal skin of rats. In the present study, direct effects of T-2 toxin on keratinocyte primary cultures obtained from newborn rats were examined after the third passage. Keratinocyte medium containing 0.25 microg/ml of T-2 toxin dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide or solvent alone was added to 4-day cultures and incubated at 37 degrees C. At 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 h after treatment (h), feeder layer was separated from flasks, and cells were trypsinized. Cell viability was estimated by trypan blue exclusion method. In addition, RNA was obtained and RT-PCR was performed. Samples obtained from slide cultures at 3, 6, 9, and 12 h were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde or 2.5% glutaraldehyde for morphological examination. After T-2 toxin application, cell viability decreased to 40% at 3 h. At 6 h, small-sized keratinocytes showed pyknosis or karyorrhexis, resulting in detachment from slides. The number of such cells increased until 12 h. These small-sized keratinocytes showed ultrastructural changes characteristic for apoptosis. At the same time, large squamous keratinocytes showed intracytoplasmic edema. The expression of apoptosis-related genes (c-fos and c-jun) and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) mRNAs markedly increased before the development of apoptosis. These findings indicate that c-fos and c-jun oncogenes and TNF-alpha and IL-1beta play an important role in the development of T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis in keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Stella Maris
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Albarenque
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013605:T-2 Toxin