Apoptosis photoinduction by C60 fullerene in human leukemic T cells

Ukr Biokhim Zh (1999). 2010 Jul-Aug;82(4):121-7.

Abstract

The viability of normal (Wistar rat thymocytes) and transformed (human leukemia Jurkat cells) T cells after UV/Vis irradiation in the presence of pristine C60 fullerene was studied. The data obtained have shown that C60 fullerene exhibits cytotoxic effect against transformed T lymphocytes when combined with UV/Vis irradiation using mercury-vapor lamp (320-600 nm). C60 fullerene photocytotoxicity was not detected in thymocytes. C60-dependent photoinduced apoptosis of Jurkat cells was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation. No substantial increase of caspase-3 activation was observed in thymocytes treated with C60 fullerene plus irradiation, while antileukemic agent cytosine arabinoside was shown to induce caspase-3 activation both in Jurkat cells and thymocytes. The data obtained may be useful for development of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy with selective action on leukemia cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Apoptosis* / radiation effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
  • DNA Fragmentation / radiation effects
  • Female
  • Fullerenes / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Light*
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • T-Lymphocytes* / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes* / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / radiation effects
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / drug effects
  • Thymus Gland / radiation effects
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Fullerenes
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Caspase 3
  • fullerene C60