A Novel Type of
Apoptosis Induced by Cadmium in BA/F3β Cells
ZHAI Qi-Wei, JI Hong-Bin, ZHENG Zhong-Cheng*, SUN Lan-Ying,
LIU Xin-Yuan
( Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Shanghai 200031, China )
Abstract Apoptosis
is usually accompanied by DNA fragmentation and up-regulation of reactive
oxygen species, and it can be inhibited by overexpression of Bcl-2. Here,
cadmium was found to induce apoptosis in BA/F3β cells. MTT assay, Hochest 33258
staining, and transmission electron microscopy analysis were used to detect the
apoptosis, however, neither DNA fragmentation nor up-regulation of reactive
oxygen species were observed in this type of apoptosis. Furthermore, Bcl-2
overexpression had no effect on this type of apoptosis. In conclusion, these
data suggested that cadmium induced a novel type of apoptosis in BA/F3β cells.
Key words apoptosis； DNA fragmentation； reactive oxygen species； Bcl-2； cadmium
Received: July 12,
1999 Accepted: August 26, 1999
This work was supported by a grant from the 9th five Years Plan Key
Research Programs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. KJ951-B1-608
* Corresponding author: Tel, 86-21-64374430; Fax, 86-21-64338357; e-mail, [email protected]