Increase in number of annexin V-positive living cells of rat thymocytes by intracellular Pb(2+)

Yasutaka Nishizaki; Hiromi Nakao; Chisato Umebayashi; Kyoko Iwase; Tomoko Tatsuishi; Masaya Satoh; Yasuo Oyama

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2003.08.007

Increase in number of annexin V-positive living cells of rat thymocytes by intracellular Pb(2+)

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;15(1):45-51. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2003.08.007.

Authors

Yasutaka Nishizaki¹, Hiromi Nakao, Chisato Umebayashi, Kyoko Iwase, Tomoko Tatsuishi, Masaya Satoh, Yasuo Oyama

Affiliation

¹ Department of Life Sciences, Laboratories of Cellular Signaling and Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Minami-Jyosanjima 1-1, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.

PMID: 21782679
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2003.08.007

Abstract

Lead is ubiquitous in our environment and lead poisoning is a major public health problem worldwide. In this study, to see if intracellular Pb(2+) induces the exposure of phosphatidylserine in rat thymocyte membranes, we have examined the effect of PbCl(2) on rat thymocytes treated with A23187 using a flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent indicators under nominally-Ca(2+)-free condition. PbCl(2) at 1-30 μM dose-dependently induced the exposure of phosphatidylserine on outer membranes, associated with increasing the concentration of intracellular Pb(2+). The potency of intracellular Pb(2+) to induce the apoptotic change in thymocyte membranes seems to be greater than those of intracellular Ca(2+) and Cd(2+). Results suggest that intracellular Pb(2+) triggers apoptosis of rat thymocytes. This action of Pb(2+) may be one of mechanisms for the lead-induced changes in immunity.