Induction of cell death, DNA strand breaks, and cell cycle arrest in DU145 human prostate carcinoma cell line by benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 10 - 14
• Main Authors: Nwagbara, Onyinye, Darling-Reed, Selina F, Tucker, Alicia, Harris, Cynthia, Abazinge, Michael, Thomas, Ronald D, Gragg, Richard D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI) 01.03.2007
• Subjects: 7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide - toxicity; Benzo(a)pyrene - toxicity; Carcinogens - toxicity; Carcinoma - pathology; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; DNA Breaks - drug effects; Humans; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Toxicity Tests
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph2007010002

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is a major environmental pollutant. In this study, the effects of this carcinogen/mutagen and one of its metabolites, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), on human prostate carcinoma cell line DU145, were examined. Cell viability, DNA damage, and cell cycle progression were evaluated as toxic end-points. We have shown that B[a]P and BPDE inhibited cell viability following 48 hr of exposure. Furthermore, comet assay analyses revealed that both B[a]P and BPDE induced DNA strand breaks in a concentration-dependent fashion. Flow cytometric analyses showed that about 70% of DU145 cells were arrested by B[a]P at the G1 phase, while about 76% were arrested at G1 phase by BPDE. These data reveal that B[a]P and BPDE are cytotoxic and genotoxic to DU145 prostate cancer cells.