Prooxidant Agents Induce Modifications in the Cytoskeletal Organisation of Fibroblasts

Abstract

An important modulatory role of free-radicals and related species in controlling the cell cycle has recently been revealed. The cytoskeletal system is an intracellular structure that participates in the regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle and is involved in reactions which generate free-radicals. We studied the effects of three different prooxidant systems (ascorbate/iron II sulphate, adenosine diphosphate/iron III chloride and cumene hydroperoxide) on BALB/C 3T3 fibroblasts, in order to establish a relationship between cytoskeletal alterations and changes in cell proliferation under oxidative stress conditions. We found that prooxidant systems markedly influence cytoskeletal organisation, but only slightly modify the proliferation rate. The mechanism of cytoskeletal alteration is unclear, but does not depend on oxidative damage. The main components of the cytoskeleton appear to be involved in free-radical-generated cell reactions, even though a relationship with cell growth has yet to be identified.