GLYCOL ETHERS INDUCE DEATH AND NECROSIS IN HUMAN LEUKEMIA-CELLS

Ethylene glycol ethers are common solvents. Some isomers are toxic for the reproduction and immunity functions of humans and laboratory anim als and are antileukemic for rodents. The health hazards of ethylene g lycol ethers may result from their ability to induce cell death in var ious organs or tissues. To study this possibility, the human leukemia cell lines HL-60, Molt3, and K562 were treated with ethylene glycol et hers. 2-Ethoxyethanol and 2-butoxyethanol were selected because they a re among the most commonly used ethelyne glycol ethers, but little is known about their individual toxicity. Cell death was detected by tryp an blue uptake, flow cytometry, DNA electrophoresis, and poly(ADP-ribo se) polymerase proteolysis. The treatments lasted up to 72 h with dose s ranging from 1 to 20 mM, which are high relative to the concentratio ns found in biological fluids of exposed workers. The highest dose of 2-butoxyethanol (20 mM) induced apoptosis in Molt3 cells after 72 h in cubation. Other treatments had no effect, induced necrosis, or blocked the cells in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle.