Cytotoxic action of sulfur mustard on cultured lymphocytes and their caspase-3 expression / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the manner and molecular mechanism of lymphocyte cytotoxic action induced by sulfur mustard. Methods Lymphocytes were separated from the spleen of Wistar rats and were cultured. DNA strand breaks were detected by fluorospectrophotometry. RT PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the gene and protein expressions of caspase 3 and its activation. Results Sulfur mustard induced DNA strand breaks in the lymphocytes. Gene and protein expressions of caspase 3 were increased in a time dependent manner. Conclusion Sulfur mustard induces lymphocyte cytotoxic action by means of depending on the expression and activation of caspase 3.