Hydrogen peroxide in relation to proliferation and apoptosis in BHK-21 hamster fibroblasts

Addition of H2O2 at 100 microM, or 1 mM, to the culture medium of BHK-21 fibroblasts results in increased intracellular levels of H2O2. Whilst exposure of BHK-21 cells to lower levels of H2O2 (1 microM) actually stimulates proliferation, these higher oxidant concentrations not only depress proliferation rates but also lead to an increase in the appearance of apoptotic-like cells in the cultures. Other agents such as inhibitors of glutathione peroxidase and catalase, or mimics of superoxide dismutase, which also bring about elevated cellular levels of H2O2 in BHK-21 cells, similarly lead to decreased proliferation and an apparent increase in cells with apoptopic features. Thus intracellular conditions which are considered more prooxidant than normal, appear to favour apoptosis over proliferation in BHK-21 fibroblasts. Additionally these abnormal cellular conditions also appear to favour excessive DNA replication, in remaining non-apoptotic cells.