STUDY OF APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES BY TOXIC-SUBSTANCES IMPLICATED IN TOXIC-OIL-SYNDROME

Toxic Oil Syndrome is a multisystemic disease that occurred in epidemi c proportions in Spain in 1981 caused by the ingestion of rapeseed oil denatured with aniline. Several data implicate T cells in the pathoge nesis of the disease. We evaluated the mechanisms of cytotoxicity in h uman lymphocytes of TOS-related products: aniline, 3-(N-phenylamino)-1 ,2-propanediol and its mono- and di-oleyl esters and eosinophilia myal gia-related product such as 3-(phenylamino)-L-alanine, which is chemic ally similar to 3-(N-phenylamino)-1,2-propanediol, and has been found in manufactured L-tryptophan. Our results show that only di-oleyl este r of 3-(N-phenylamino)-1,2-propanediol induces apoptosis in human lymp hocytes, in a concentration and time-dependent way, confirmed by morph ology, expression of phosphatidylserine in membrane and analysis of DN A degradation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.