Mitochondrial dysfunction and transactivation of p53-dependent apoptotic genes in BaP-treated human fetal lung...

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) has been shown to be an inducer of apoptosis. However, mechanisms involved in BaP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction are not well-known. In this study, human fetal lung fibroblasts cells were treated with BaP (8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 μM) for 4 and 12 h. Cell viability, intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)) and cytochrome c release were determined. Changes in transcriptional levels of p53-dependent apoptotic genes (p53, APAF1, CASPASE3, CASPASE9, NOXA and PUMA) were measured. At time point of 4 h, BaP induced the intracellular ROS generation in 64 (p < .05) and 128 μM BaP groups (p < .01) but decreased the T-AOC activities in 32, 64 (p < .05 for both) and 128 μM BaP groups (p < .01). At time point of 12 h, ΔΨ(m) significantly decreased in ≥32 μM BaP groups (p < .05 for all). Amount of mitochondrial cytochrome c significantly increased in 128 μM BaP group (p < .01). Transcriptional levels of CASPASE3, CASPASE9, APAF1 and PUMA were up-regulated in all BaP groups (p < .05 for all) and in ≥32 μM groups for NOXA (p < .05). But only in 16 μM BaP group a relatively little expression of p53 mRNA was observed (p < .05). The results indicate that in the earlier period BaP promoted the generation of excessive ROS and subsequently the mitochondrial depolarization, whereas transactivations of the p53-dependent apoptotic genes were significantly induced at the later period.