TESTING OF CHELATING-AGENTS AND VITAMINS AGAINST LEAD TOXICITY USING MAMMALIAN-CELL CULTURES

Mammalian cell cultures were used to determine the capacity of antidot es to modify (a) lead uptake, (b) lead toxicity and (c) lead release f rom cells, The following chelating agents were tested: Na, Ca-ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DT PA), nitriloacetic acid, ethylene glycol-bis(aminoethyl)tetraacetic ac id (EGTA), D,L-mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA), meso-2,3-dimercaptopropane succinic acid (DMSA), D,L-2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid (DMPS) , penicillamine (PA), N-acetylpenicillamine (NAPA), and diethylcarbodi thioate (DDTC), The following vitamins were tested: thiamine (B-1), ri boflavine (B-2), pyridoxine (B-6), cobalamin (B-12) and ascorbic acid (BC), Inhibition of lead uptake was produced by EDTA, EGTA, DMSA, DMPS , MSA, PA, NAPA and vitamins B-1, B-6 and C, vitamins B-2 and B-12 bei ng ineffective, The same compounds reduced lead cytotoxicity, Interest ingly DDTC and DTPA increased lead uptake, but did not exacerbate lead toxicity, Significant release of lead from preloaded cells was caused by DTPA, NAPA, DMPS and PA, while the other chelators were ineffectiv e.