title: Sodium arsenite-induced inhibition of cell proliferation is related to inhibition of IL-2 mRNA expression in mouse activated T cells.
abstract: A proposed mechanism for the As-induced inhibition of cell proliferation is the inhibition of IL-2 secretion. However, the effects of arsenite on IL-2 mRNA expression or on the ERK pathway in activated-T cells have not yet been described. We examined the effect of arsenite on IL-2 mRNA expression, cell activation and proliferation in PHA-stimulated murine lymphocytes. Arsenite (1 and 10 microM) decreased IL-2 mRNA expression, IL-2 secretion and cell proliferation. Arsenite (10 microM) strongly inhibited ERK-phosphorylation. However, the partial inhibition (50%) of IL-2 mRNA produced by 1 microM, consistent with the effects on IL-2 secretion and cell proliferation, could not be explained by the inhibition of ERK-phosphorylation, which was not affected at this concentration. The inhibition of IL-2 mRNA expression caused by 1 microM could be associated to effects on pathways located downstream or parallel to ERK. Arsenite also decreased early activation (surface CD69+ expression) in both CD4+ and CD8+, and decreased total CD8+ count without significantly affecting CD4+, supporting that the cellular immune response mediated by cytotoxic T cells is an arsenic target. Thus, our results suggest that arsenite decreases IL-2 mRNA levels and T-cell activation and proliferation. However, further studies on the effects of arsenite on IL-2 gene transcription and IL-2 mRNA stability are needed.
authors.affiliation: Sección Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, CINVESTAV, P.O. Box 14-740, Mexico, D.F., 07360, Mexico.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.forename: Leonor C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Acosta-Saavedra
authors.forename: Raquel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Goytia-Acevedo
authors.forename: Emma S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Calderon-Aranda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018053:Arsenites; D007376:Interleukin-2; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C017947:sodium arsenite