1994 Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 135-144
Ascorbic acid-induced fragmentation of DNA in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines (HL-60, ML-1), as judged by agarose gel electrophoresis, fluorometric determination of DNA (DAPI method), or flow cytometry, was studied. Ascorbic acid induced no detectable DNA fragmentation in human peripheral blood monocytes, lymphocytes or polymorphonuclear cells. Minimum exposure time required for the onset of apoptosis was 30 min. Addition of catalase completely blocked the DNA fragmentation induced by ascorbic acid. Fragmentation of DNA could be induced by hydrogen peroxide, but not by sodium hypochlorite. The data suggest that hydrogen peroxide is significantly involved in ascorbic acid-induced apoptosis in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines.
