[Role of apoptosis in trichloroethylene induced irritant injury in the skin].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of apoptosis and caspase-8, cyt c in the skin of the BALB/c mice exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE).


METHODS
30 BALB/c mice were divided in random into the solvent control group, 10% TCE group, 20% TCE group, 40% TCE group, 80% TCE group and 100% TCE group. Apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL and EM. The expressions of caspase-8 and cyt c were detected with immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
EM showed that the apoptosis of cells was found in the high dosage groups. The immunohistochemical results showed that there were significant differences in the apoptosis rate and the activity of cyt c between the different dosage groups. There was the significant difference in the apoptosis rate between the 40%, 80%, 100% TCE groups the control group (P < 0.01). There was the significant difference in the expression of cyt c between the 20%, 40%, 80%, 100% TCE groups [(2.60 +/- 0.54), (3.42 +/- 0.56), (5.81 +/- 1.30) and (6.00 +/- 0.70), respectively] and the control group (P < 0.01). The expressions of caspase-8 had no significant differences (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptosis plays an important role in trichloroethylene induced irritant injury in skin and the apoptosis may be related with the mitochondrial injury.
Yu
Jun-feng
JF
Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Zhu
Qi-xing
QX
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*
D014241:Trichloroethylene; D045304:Cytochromes c; C505526:Casp8 protein, mouse; D053181:Caspase 8