DMSO INDUCES APOPTOSIS IN SV40-TRANSFORMED HUMAN KERATINOCYTES, BUT NOT IN NORMAL KERATINOCYTES

We found that dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) at concentrations of 2.5% indu ced apoptosis in SV40-immortalized human keratinocytes, while normal k eratinocytes were arrested at the boundary of G1/S phase under the sam e conditions. DMSO-induced apoptosis in SV-40 immortalized keratinocyt es was not associated with change in phospohrylated state of the retin oblastoma susceptibility gene. When SV40-immortalized cells were treat ed with 2.5% DMSO, dissociation of the complex was observed by immunob lotting of SV40 T antigen from immunoprecipitated p53 protein fraction .