title: Nickel induces apoptosis in human neutrophils.
abstract: Nickel is an ubiquitous transition metal that is industrially applied in many forms, which inevitably leads to a high degree of occupational and environmental exposure. Over-exposure to nickel can produce a variety of adverse effects on human health, including allergy and lung and nasal cancers. In the present study, it is demonstrated, for the first time, that nickel [(Ni(II)] (as a nickel nitrate salt) at concentrations that may be attained in vivo, induces neutrophils' apoptosis by the intrinsic pathway. The use of diphenyleneiodonium, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, delayed Ni(II)-induced apoptosis, suggesting that NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species and subsequent signaling could contribute to this event. This is an important finding since increased apoptosis mediated by nickel may disrupt the physiological activities of neutrophils, with potential impact in its immunological and antimicrobial role.
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira no. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barcellos-de-Souza
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barja-Fidalgo
authors.forename: Eduarda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009861:Onium Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C035197:nickel nitrate; C007517:diphenyleneiodonium; D009532:Nickel; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3