Induction of Cell Death, DNA Strand Breaks, and Cell Cycle Arrest in DU145 Human Prostate Carcinoma Cell Line by Benzo[a]pyrene and Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide

• Main Authors: Richard D. Gragg, Ronald D. Thomas, Michael Abazinge, Cynthia Harris, Alicia Tucker, Selina F. Darling-Reed, Onyinye Nwagbara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2007-03-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: Benzo[a]pyrene; benzo[a]pyrene-7; 8-diol-9; 10-epoxide; DU145; cell viability; DNA damage; cell cycle
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/4/1/10/
• ISSN: 1660-4601

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is a major environmental pollutant. In this study, the effects of this carcinogen/mutagen and one of its metabolites, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), on human prostate carcinoma cell line DU145, were examined. Cell viability, DNA damage, and cell cycle progression were evaluated as toxic end-points. We have shown that B[a]P and BPDE inhibited cell viability following 48 hr of exposure. Furthermore, comet assay analyses revealed that both B[a]P and BPDE induced DNA strand breaks in a concentration -dependent fashion. Flow cytometric analyses showed that about 70 % of DU145 cells were arrested by B[a]P at the G1 phase, while about 76% were arrested at G1 phase by BPDE. These data reveal that B[a]P and BPDE are cytotoxic and genotoxic to DU145 prostate cancer cells.