Issue 6, 2011

Okadaic acid induces morphological changes, apoptosis and cell cycle alterations in different human cell types

Abstract

Okadaic acid (OA) is a marine toxin produced by dinoflagellate species which is frequently accumulated in molluscs usual in the human diet. The exact action mechanism of OA has not been described yet and the results of most reported studies are often conflicting. The aim of this work was to evaluate the OA effects on morphology, cell cycle and apoptosis induction by means of light microscopy and flow cytometry, in three different types of human cells (leukocytes, HepG2 cells and SHSY5Y cells). Cells were treated with a range of OA concentrations in the presence and absence of S9 fraction. OA induced morphological changes in all the cell types studied, and cell cycle disruption only in leukocytes and neuronal cells. SHSY5Y cells were the most sensitive to OA assault. Results obtained in the presence and absence of metabolic activation were similar, suggesting that OA acts both directly and indirectly. Furthermore, OA was found to increase the subG1 region in the flow cytometry cell cycle analysis, suggesting induction of apoptosis. These results were confirmed by the employment of specific methodologies for studying apoptosis such as caspase 3 activation and annexin V staining. Increases in the apoptosis rate were obtained in all the cells treated in the absence of S9 fraction, accompanied by increases in caspase 3 activation, suggesting that apoptosis induced by OA is a caspase 3-dependent process. Nevertheless, in the presence of S9 fraction no apoptosis was detected, indicating a metabolic detoxifying activity, although necrosis was observed in neuroblastoma cells.

Graphical abstract: Okadaic acid induces morphological changes, apoptosis and cell cycle alterations in different human cell types

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Dec 2010
Accepted
28 Mar 2011
First published
27 Apr 2011

J. Environ. Monit., 2011,13, 1831-1840

Okadaic acid induces morphological changes, apoptosis and cell cycle alterations in different human cell types

V. Valdiglesias, B. Laffon, E. Pásaro and J. Méndez, J. Environ. Monit., 2011, 13, 1831 DOI: 10.1039/C0EM00771D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements