Sk. Lee et Bm. Lee, OXIDATION OF ERYTHROCYTE PROTEIN AND LIPID, AND HEMOLYSIS IN RABBIT RED-BLOOD-CELLS TREATED WITH BENZO[A]PYRENE OR ADRIAMYCIN, Journal of toxicology and environmental health, 51(6), 1997, pp. 557-569
A number of free-radical-generating carcinogens catalyze the oxidative
modification of macromolecules. Malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl conte
nt, alanine formation, and hemolysis were used as biomarkers of oxidat
ive stress, and were determined in rabbit erythrocytes created in vitr
o with benzo[a]pyrene or adriamycin. MDA and carbonyl content were sig
nificantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner by carcinogen
s. Alanine formation was also increased in a concentration-dependent m
anner in rabbit erythrocytes treated with carcinogens. Hemolysis occur
red in erythrocytes treated with benzo[a]pyrene (540 mu M) or adriamyc
in (300 mu M) between 4 and 8 h of incubation, respectively. The hemol
ysis pattern correlated with increases in MDA, carbonyl content, and a
lanine formation. These data indicate that lipid peroxidation as measu
red by MDA may be the most sensitive indicator for oxidative stress in
erythrocytes. Hemolysis could thus be applicable to free-radical-indu
ced cellular damage as an alternative biomarker of oxidative stress.