Abstract
Purpose. Liposomes are of considerable interest as drug carriers andimmunoadjuvants. However, few investigators have studied thechanges exerted by liposomes in the cells with which they interact.The purpose of this study was to investigate whether liposomes induceapoptosis in B cells.
Methods. The mouse immature B cell line WEHI 231 cells and mousesplenic B cells were treated with liposomes, and the induction ofapoptosis was evaluated by monitoring changes in DNA content, DNAfragmentation and chromatin condensation by flow cytometry, agarosegel electrophoresis and by morphological investigation.
Results. Cationic liposomes induced apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells, butneutral and anionic liposomes did not. A contact time of 30 minbetween WEHI 231 cells and cationic liposomes was sufficient toinduce apoptosis, and 80% of the cells showed hypodiploid DNAcontent. Apoptosis induced by cationic liposomes composed ofstearylamine was inhibited by addition of the oxidant scavenger,N-acetyl-cysteine.
Conclusions. Cationic liposomes induced apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells,and the production of reactive oxygen species is important in theregulation of apoptosis induced by cationic liposomes. It is well knownthat cationic liposomes show cytotoxicity, and apoptosis may be oneof the causes of this toxicity.
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Aramaki, Y., Takano, S., Arima, H. et al. Induction of Apoptosis in WEHI 231 Cells by Cationic Liposomes. Pharm Res 17, 515–520 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007552529280
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007552529280