The cellular response and detoxification mechanisms in porcine endothelial cells (PAECs) to arsenic trioxide (As2O3), sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4) were investigated. NaAsO2 at 20 microM for 72 h increased Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity resulting in elevated intracellular hydrogen peroxide levels, but As2O3 and Na2HAsO4 did not. Trivalent arsenic compounds increased intracellular oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and total glutathione (GSH) and cellular glutathione peroxidase (cGPX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, but not glutathione reductase activity. The increased cGPX activity resulted in an elevated cellular GSSG content. Na2HAsO4 increased the cellular GSSG level at 72 h compared to controls. These results imply that the increased GSH content responding to the oxidative stress by trivalent arsenic compounds may be mainly related to the regulation of GSH turnover. The increased GST activity implies that the elevated intracellular GSH level responding to the oxidative stress may be used to conjugate arsenic in PAECs and facilitate arsenic efflux.
The differential effects of arsenic compounds and the effect of selenium on arsenic-induced changes in cytotoxicity, viability, and cell cycle of porcine aorta endothelial cells (PAECs) were investigated. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay indicated that arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) and sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2)) showed similar cytotoxicity, whereas sodium arsenate (Na(2)HAsO(4)) did not show cytotoxicity in PAECs. As(2)O(3) and NaAsO(2) at 20 microM decreased PAEC viability, decreased G0/G1 phase, and increased apoptosis. An increased G2/M phase was observed in NaAsO(2)-treated PAECs, whereas an increase in secondary necrosis (late apoptosis) was observed in As(2)O(3)-treated PAECs. As(2)O(3)-induced apoptosis was associated with upregulation of p53 and caspase 3, whereas NaAsO(2)-induced apoptosis was associated with p53 upregulation. Sodium selenite (Na(2)SeO(3)) at 1 nM reduced 20 microM As(2)O(3)-induced cytotoxicity, but not apoptosis, at 24 h. Increased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity by Na(2)SeO(3) pretreatment in 20 microM As(2)O(3)-treated PAECs suggests that Na(2)SeO(3) modulates As(2)O(3)-induced cytoxicity by GPX modulation.
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