Effects of proliferation on primary cultured human skin cells induced by inorganic arsenics

Objective To investigate the damage effects of arsenic on primary cultured skin cells induced by inorganic arsenics.Methods Cell number counting, MTT reduction assay,transmission electron microscope were performed in primary cultured skin cells, and sodium arsenite was used as tester inorganic arsenics.Results With different concentration of sodium arsenite 0.5～8.0 μmol/L, the skin fibroblasts were markedly stimulated,and a dose effect relationship was observed. Sodium arsenite at lower concentration( 0.8,1.6 μmol/L) induced mainly degree proliferation of epidermic cell while inhibiting cell growth beyond 3.2 μmol/L.At concentration of 10 μmol/L, however, sodium arsenite induced injury of skin fibroblasts was observed.Conclusions The proliferation of the different skin cell line is regulated in a double phase manner, it may play a critical role in the development of skin injuries caused by inorganic arsenics,and the mechanism of DNA injury in primary cultured human skin cells need to be studied further.