D-RIBOSE AND DEOXY-D-RIBOSE INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN QUIESCENT PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

In previous papers we reported that D(-)-ribose and 2-deoxy-D-ribose, which rank at the top among reducing sugars, kill a variety of human a nd animal cells and cell lines [1, 2]. Here we demonstrate that these two sugars induce apoptosis in human quiescent peripheral blood mononu clear cells which are relatively insensitive to apoptosis. Apoptosis w as assessed by morphological changes, DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis and the appearance of an hypodiploid peak by flow cyt ometry. 2-deoxy-D-ribose was more potent than D(-)-ribose and apoptosi s was evident from 48 hours of culture onwards. 2-deoxy-D-ribose-induc ed apoptosis was inibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine, suggesting that glut athione metabolism and/or oxidative stress are involved in this type o f apoptosis. Thus, D(-)-ribose and 2-deoxy-D-ribose can be useful tool s to study the cellular and molecular events of apoptosis in human qui escent lymphocytes. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.