ZnCl2 induces Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation

Toxicol Lett. 2003 Apr 30;142(1-2):77-87. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4274(02)00488-5.

Abstract

In order to test the hypothesis of a relationship between apoptosis and neoplastic transformation, we studied the transforming potency of zinc, known for its antiapoptotic effects. In this study, zinc chloride (100 microM) was shown to induce morphological transformation (MT) in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. It was also tested in combination with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a positive control for carcinogenicity, or fomesafen, a carcinogenic pesticide with hepatic peroxisomal proliferation properties. A co-exposure of the two carcinogens with 100 microM zinc increased cell transformation in SHE cells. These results were in agreement with the theory of a relationship between the inhibition of apoptosis and induction of cell transformation. The cloning efficiency (CE) of SHE cells seeded at clonal density was raised by zinc, fomesafen and furthermore by the mixture of the two chemicals, which could be explained by the antiapoptotic action of zinc and fomesafen on SHE cells. No change in myc and bax expressions was observed in zinc-treated SHE cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzamides / pharmacology
  • Benzamides / toxicity
  • Benzo(a)pyrene / pharmacology
  • Benzo(a)pyrene / toxicity
  • Carcinogens / pharmacology*
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorides / pharmacology*
  • Chlorides / toxicity
  • Cricetinae
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Genes, myc / drug effects
  • Mesocricetus
  • Pesticides / pharmacology
  • Pesticides / toxicity
  • Pregnancy
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Zinc Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Zinc Compounds / toxicity
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Carcinogens
  • Chlorides
  • Pesticides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Zinc Compounds
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • zinc chloride
  • fomesafen