镉诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的研究

Studies on cadmium induced apoptosis in mouse thymocytes

目的 探索镉的免疫毒性机制 ,系统性地研究镉体外诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的发生 ,解释其细胞毒性机制。方法 通过以下方法检测凋亡 :末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的dUTP缺口末端标记 (TUNEL) ,DNA含量 /细胞周期分析 ,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳。结果 镉能引起原代培养的胸腺细胞发生凋亡 ,并呈时间 反应和剂量 效应关系。结论 本研究为阐述镉免疫毒性机制提供了依据 ,尤其对解释镉引起的胸腺萎缩和导致的T细胞介导的免疫力损伤有重要意义。

Objective To elucidate the immunotoxical mechanism of cadmium (Cd) which is a common occupational and environmental contaminant, apoptical effect of Cd on mouse thymoytes was studied. Methods The Cd induced thymocyte apoptosis was systematically determined by ①TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay; ②DNA content/cell cycle analysis; ③DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Results The results showed that Cd might cause time and dose dependent apoptosis in primary cultured thymocytes. Conclusion These findings would be of significance in the understanding of immunotoxic mechanism of Cd, especially the induction of thymus atrophy and T cell mediated immunity.