The effect of tin chloride on the structure and function of dna in human white blood cells

Abstract

Tin compounds are being used increasingly in ▪in industry and in medicine. There have been relatively few studi ▪ng term biological effects of this metal, although acute effects h ▪cumented. In this report we describe experiments which show tha ▪stannous chloride, is readily taken up by human white blood cells ▪an cause damage to DNA. Damage was detected in WBC after e ▪-50 μM tin(II) for 30 min at either 0°C or 37°C. The amount o ▪served was more extensive than that produced by exposure of ▪nolar amounts of chromium(VI), a known carcinogen and DNA ▪agent. Additional indication of cellular damage is that exposm ▪n lymphocytes or mouse splenocytes to tin(II) interfered with thei ▪o be stimulated by the polyvalent mitogen concanavalin A (Con A). ▪rast, tin(IV) was not taken up by cells, did not cause DNA damage nor d ▪inhibit stimulation of DNA synthesis in cells that were exposed to Con A.