Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) increases Bcl-2/Bax ratio and modifies c- myc expression in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells

• Published in: Toxicology letters Vol. 158; no. 3; pp. 237 - 245
• Main Authors: Maire, M.A., Rast, C., Vasseur, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15.09.2005; Amsterdam Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bcl-2; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Biological and medical sciences; c- myc; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - chemically induced; Cells, Cultured; Chemical agents; Cricetinae; DEHP; Diethylhexyl Phthalate - toxicity; Medical sciences; Mesocricetus; Non-genotoxic rodent carcinogen; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - analysis; SHE cells; Toxicology; Tumors; Bcl-2; SHE cells; c- myc; DEHP; Non-genotoxic rodent carcinogen; Apoptosis; Embryo; c-myc; Toxicity; Rodentia; Genotoxicity; Increase; Carcinogen; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cell death; Animal; C-Onc gene; myc Gene; Hamster; Protooncogene
• ISSN: 0378-4274; 1879-3169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2005.04.004

The objective of this work was to study the anti-apoptotic properties of the non-genotoxic rodent carcinogen, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. We demonstrated that a 24 h pre-treatment of SHE cells with 50 μM DEHP inhibited apoptosis triggered by growth factors deprivation. The RNA expression levels of the regulator genes involved in the apoptotic pathway, bcl-2, bax and of c- myc were measured using Western blotting and RT-PCR. We showed that a 24 h treatment of SHE cells with 50 μM DEHP increased ( P < 0.05) the bcl-2 expression, while c- myc expression was decreased. No effect on bax expression was observed in the range of 10–50 μM. The defective regulation of apoptosis caused by DEHP treatment could contribute to its carcinogenicity.