tellurium and Leukemia--Promyelocytic--Acute

The increasing use of tellurium compounds in organic synthesis, industrial applications, and as a possible component in pesticides means that its introduction into the environment will increase in the future. Therefore, knowledge of the relative toxicity and mode of toxic action of tellurium-containing compounds is important. The studies detailed here used three model compounds: diphenyl ditelluride, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ditelluride, and 4,4'-diisopropyldiphenyl ditelluride. Experiments with human promyelocytic (line HL-60) cells indicate that all of the organotellurium compounds induce an apoptotic form of cell death. The induction of apoptosis occurs in a time- and dose-dependent manner as assayed by three different analytical methods: fluorescence microscopy, gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells were evident as early as 2 h following treatment with 1x10(-6) M concentrations of the compounds. Based on these results, future care should be afforded these compounds in laboratory as well as industrial settings.

Topics: Apoptosis; Benzene Derivatives; DNA; DNA Fragmentation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Flow Cytometry; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Organometallic Compounds; Tellurium