title: Surfactant 4-nonylphenyl-polyethylene glycol stimulates reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: The formulation of most pesticides is proprietary and individual components are therefore not generally known. In a preliminary study, we identified six compounds that are often present in pesticides, of which 4-nonylphenyl-polyethylene glycol (NP-40) was found to be the most toxic. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of NP-40 and underlying mechanism in neuronal SK-N-SH cells. Exposure to NP 40 at concentrations higher than 60μmol/L for 24hr decreased cell viability. The cytotoxicity of NP-40 was time- and concentration-dependent. Nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation were apparent starting at 50μmol/L NP-40, and increased at higher concentrations. The expression of apoptotic factors including p53 and B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2-associated X protein was upregulated, while that of the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 was downregulated at 80 μmol/L NP-40. Cytochrome c release was observed from 80 to 100μmol/L by confocal microscopy. Caspase-9 and -3/7 activities increased according to concentration, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis showed that apoptosis was induced at 50μmol/L and was increased at 80μmol/L. Our findings indicate that NP-40 stimulates the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway and reactive oxygen species production in a concentration-dependent manner, and suggest that antioxidant administration may be an effective treatment for patients with acute NP-40 poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, South Korea. Electronic address: tzerin1983@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tanana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zerin
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hoyeon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Poisoning Center, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyowook
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Poisoning Center, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, South Korea. Electronic address: syhong@sch.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Saeyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: Apoptosis; Caspase-3/7; Caspase-9; Cytochrome c; Nonionic surfactant; Oxidative stress