C60 carboxyfullerene exerts a protective activity against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

C60 carboxyfullerene is a novel buckminsterfullerene-derived compound that behaves as a free-radical scavenger. In the present report, we investigated whether this drug exerts a protective activity against oxidative stress-in duced apoptosis. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were chal lenged by 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib) or TNF-alpha plus cycloheximide as agents that trigger apoptosis by interfering with the redox status of cell and mi tochondrial membrane potential, We found that carboxyfullerene was able to protect quiescent PBMCs from apoptosis caused either by 8-deoxy-D-ribose or TNF-alpha plus cycloheximide by a mechanism partially involving the mitoch ondrial membrane potential integrity, known to be associated with early sta ges of apoptosis. These results represent the first indication for a target activity of buckminsterfullerenes on cells of the immune system and their mitochondria. (C) 2000 Academic Press.