Phenol and chlorinated phenols exhibit different apoptotic potential in human red blood cells (in vitro study)

Publication date: July 2018Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Volume 61Author(s): Jaromir Michałowicz, Anna Włuka, Monika Cyrkler, Aneta Maćczak, Paulina Sicińska, Katarzyna MokraAbstractPhenol and chlorinated phenols are widely spread in the environment and human surrounding, which leads to a common environmental and occupational exposure of humans to these substances. The aim of this study was to assess eryptotic changes in human red blood cells treated with phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP). The erythrocytes were incubated with phenols studied in the concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 μg/mL for 24 h or 48 h. The results of the study revealed that all compounds studied caused phosphatidylserine translocation and increased cytosolic calcium ions level in human erythrocytes. It was also noticed that phenol and chlorophenols caused an increase in caspase-3 and calpain activation, which confirmed that they were capable of inducing suicidal death of erythrocytes. The results also revealed that PCP most strongly altered the parameters studied, while phenol exhibited the weakest eryptotic potential in the incubated cells.
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research