3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5 H-pyrido[4,3- b]indole (Trp-P-1) induces apoptosis in rat splenocytes and thymocytes by different mechanisms

Abstract

3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5 H-pyrido[4,3- b]indole (Trp-P-1) is a potent carcinogen present in cooked meat. Although the target of this carcinogen is mainly in the liver, Trp-P-1 is distributed in the thymus and spleen as well as in the liver after administration. However, the cytotoxic effect of Trp-P-1 on lymphocytes has not been examined in detail. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of Trp-P-1 against rat splenocytes and thymocytes. Trp-P-1 reduced viability of both types of cells in the same manner, the LD 50 at 6 h in culture was 15 μM, and the time for the 50% decrease in cell viability ( t 1/2) at 20 μM was 3 h. In both types of cells, Trp-P-1 caused the activation of caspase-3-like proteases and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, both of which are biochemical markers of apoptosis. On the other hand, DNA fragmentation occured in splenocytes, but not in thymocytes although Trp-P-1 activated 32–34 kDa nucleases that may not be able to degrade DNA into nucleosomal units. These results indicated that Trp-P-1 induces apoptosis in both splenocytes and thymocytes by different mechanisms in which distinct apoptotic pathways may exist downstream of the caspase cascade.