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Protection by antioxidants against toxicity and apoptosis induced by the sulphur mustard analog 2‐chloroethylethyl sulphide (CEES) in Jurkat T cells and normal human lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Han Suhua,
Espinoza Luis A,
Liao Hongling,
Boulares A Hamid,
Smulson Mark E
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705591
Subject(s) - jurkat cells , glutathione , intracellular , programmed cell death , buthionine sulfoximine , biochemistry , apoptosis , mitochondrion , toxicity , reactive oxygen species , chemistry , sulfur mustard , biology , pharmacology , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , t cell , immunology , immune system , organic chemistry
The mechanism of toxicity of sulphur mustard was investigated by examining the biochemical effects of the analog 2‐chloroethylethyl sulphide (CEES) in both human Jurkat cells as well as normal human lymphocytes. Exposure of both types of cells to CEES resulted in a marked decrease in the intracellular concentration of the reduced form of glutathione (GSH), and CEES‐induced cell death was potentiated by L ‐buthionine sulphoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. CEES increased the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Jurkat cells, and CEES‐induced cell death was potentiated by hydrogen peroxide. CEES induced various hallmarks of apoptosis, including collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, proteolytic processing and activation of procaspase‐3, and cleavage of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase. The effects of CEES on the accumulation of ROS, the intracellular concentration of GSH, the mitochondrial membrane potential, and caspase‐3 activity were all inhibited by pretreatment of cells with the GSH precursor N ‐acetyl cysteine or with GSH‐ethyl ester. Furthermore, CEES‐induced cell death was also prevented by these antioxidants. CEES toxicity appears to be mediated, at least in part, by the generation of ROS and consequent depletion of GSH. Given that sulphur mustard is still a potential biohazard, the protective effects of antioxidants against CEES toxicity demonstrated in Jurkat cells and normal human lymphocytes may provide the basis for the development of a therapeutic strategy to counteract exposure to this chemical weapon.British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 141 , 795–802. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705591