Study of apoptosis induced by fluoride and protective effect of selenium in human hepatocytes in vitro

Objective To investigate the effects of selenium and fluoride on the cell cycle and apoptosis of human hepatocytes in vitro.Methods The cell cycle and apoptosis were observed with flow cytometry after hepatacytes incubated with selenium and/or fluoride for around 12 hours in vitro.Results Fluoride enhanced the percentage of hepatocyte apoptosis and the number of cells in S phase, but there is no change in G 0/G 1 and G 2/M phase. Selenium can antagonize these kinds of effects on hepatocytes induced by fluoride.Conclusions The damage of fluoride on hepatocytes may be related with the promoting apoptosis and disturbance cell cycle distribution. Some dose of selenium can antagonize the apoptosis and cell cycle of hepatocytes induced by fluoride.