Relationship between apoptosis and cell cycle of lymphocytes induced by sulfur mustard

  Objective   To study the relationship between apoptosis and cell cycle of spleenly mphocyte treated with sulfur mustard.

  Methods   Lymphocytes were separated from the spleen of Wistar rats and were cultured in vitro.Using flowcytometry, DNA ag arose gel electrophoresis, apoptosis, cell cycle, DN A fragments were detected respectively.

  Results   Sulfur mustard could induce apoptosis on lymphocyte.And also, sulfur mustar d could affect cell cycle obviously, mainly causing S and G2/M cycle decreased and lymphocyte blocked at G1 cycle stage.The DNA content of lymphocyte increased in G1 cycle, and decreased in S cycle.Hypodiploid DNA peak(apoptosis spike)was detected by FCM assay.The DNA agarose gel electrophoresis showed a ladder strap(DN A ladder).

  Conclusion   Lymphocyte could be arrested at G1/S cycle stage and the growth of cell cycle could be suppressed by sulfur mustard.The mechanism might be carried out through sulfur mustard-induced apoptosis in lymphocyte.