Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in human HepG2 hepatoma cells by decabromodiphenyl ethane
Ru Bao Sun1, Zhu Ge Xi, Jun Yan
1Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China.
Objective:
To investigate the toxic effects of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), used as an alternative to decabromodiphenyl ether in vitro.
Methods:
HepG2 cells were cultured in the presence of DBDPE at various concentrations (3.125-100.0 mg/L) for 24, 48, and 72 h respectively and the toxic effect of DBDPE was studied.
Results:
As evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays and nuclear morphological changes, DBDPE inhibited HepG2 viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner within a range of 12.5 mg/L to 100 mg/L and for 48 h and 72 h. Induction of apoptosis was detected at 12.5-100 mg/L at 48 h and 72 h by propidium iodide staining, accompanied with overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a widely used ROS scavenger, significantly reduced DBDPE-induced ROS levels and increased HepG2 cells viability.
Conclusion:
DBDPE has cytotoxic and anti-proliferation effect and can induce apoptosis in which ROS plays an important role.
