Cytotoxicity study of vascular endothelial cells by different kinds of arsenicals

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To observe the cytotoxicity of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) by different kinds of arsenicals. METHODS: Cultured BAEC was exposed to arsenite (iAsIII , 0 - 50 micromol/L), arsenate (iAsV ,0 - 10mmol/L) or monomethylarsonous acid (MMAH III, 0 - 2micromol/L) for 24h, respectively. MTT assay and ICP-MS method were used to evaluate the cell viability and the total arsenic concentration (tAs) of BAEC, respectively. RESULTS: iAsm , iAsV and MMAIII could all decrease the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (P <0.01). The IC50 values for iAsm , iAsV and MMAIII were determined to be approximately 24.1 micromol/L, 155.9 micromol/L and 1.71 micromol/L, respectively. The order of cytoxicity in BAEC was MMAIII > iAsIII > iAsV . The take-up rate of MMA' by BAEC was significantly higher than iAsR exposure (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MMAIII , one of the active intermediate in inorganic arsenic methylation, is highly toxic in BAEC. Methylation of arsenic could be more like a bioactivation process rather than a detoxification process.