Zinc protects against arsenic induced apoptosis in a neuronal cell line, measured by DEVD-caspase activity

Date

2004

Authors

Milton, A.
Zalewski, P.
Ratnaike, R.

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Journal article

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BioMetals, 2004; 17(6):707-713

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Austin Graham Milton, Peter David Zalewski and Ranjit Nihal Ratnaike

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Abstract

Acute and chronic arsenic exposure results in toxicity in humans and causes many neurological and other manifestations. For the first time the present study reports that zinc decreases arsenic-induced apoptosis and also confirms a single report of apoptosis induced by arsenic in a neuronal cell line. Apoptosis measured by DEVD-caspase activity peaked between 10 M and 20 M of arsenic trioxide. Higher concentrations of arsenic up to 40 M caused increasing cell death with diminishing DEVD-caspase activity. The beneficial effect of zinc was proportional to its concentration with a significant decrease in arsenic-induced DEVD-caspase activity at 50 M and 75 M zinc (P<0.05). This finding may be of therapeutic benefit in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

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The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com

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