title: Apoptosis in sulfur mustard treated A549 cell cultures.
abstract: The chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (SM) is a strong alkylating agent that leads to erythema and ulceration of the human skin several hours after exposure. Although SM has been intensively investigated, the cellular mechanisms leading to cell damage remain unclear. Apoptosis, necrosis and direct cell damage are discussed. In this study we investigated apoptotic cell death in pulmonary A549 cells exposed to SM (30-1000 microM, 30 min). 24 h after SM exposure DNA breaks were stained with the TUNEL method. Additionally, A549 cells were lysed and cellular protein was transferred to SDS page and blotted. Whole PARP as well as PARP cleavage into the p89 fragment, an indicator of apoptosis, were detected by specific antibodies. SM concentration dependent increase in TUNEL positive cells and PARP cleavage showed that SM is an inducer of apoptosis. It has been previously suggested that AChE is activated during apoptotic processes and may be involved in apoptosis regulation. Therefore, we examined AChE activity in A549 cells upon induction of apoptosis by SM (100-500 microM). Increased AChE activity was found in SM treated A549 cell cultures examined as determined by the Ellman's assay and by western blot. AChE activity showed a strong correlation with TUNEL positive cells. However, the broad caspase inhibitor zVAD and the PARP-inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide had no protective effect on A459 cells measured with AChE activity and frequency of TUNEL positive cells. In summary, our studies demonstrate that AChE activity may be a potential marker of apoptosis in A549 cells after SM injury. To what extent AChE is involved in apoptosis regulation during SM poisoning has to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinritz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emmler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hintz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Worek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kreppel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szinicz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kehe
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D015151:Immunoblotting; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D001549:Benzamides; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002457:Cell Extracts; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; C025160:3-aminobenzamide; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D053148:Caspase 3; D009151:Mustard Gas