Nonylphenol induces apoptosis of Jurkat cells by a caspase-8 dependent mechanism

Nonylphenol is the final biodegradation product of nonylphenol polyethoxylates, which are widely used surfactants in domestic and industrial products. Although nonylphenol is well known as an endocrine disrupting chemical, its effects on cell death and the mechanisms responsible for these apoptotic effects remain unclear. In the present study, Jurkat cells were treated with 0.1, 1 and 10 μM nonylphenol for 12 and 24 h, respectively. Cell viability was assessed with a Cell Counting Kit. The effects of nonylphenol on apoptosis of Jurkat cells were determined by DNA fragmentation (DNA ladder), Hoechst33258, PI and Annexin V FITC/PI double staining. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were detected with JC-1 fluorescence. In addition, enzyme activity of caspase-8 was evaluated by flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that nonylphenol inhibited the proliferation and induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-8 activation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, a caspase-8 inhibitor, IETD-fmk, blocked loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis. These findings suggested that nonylphenol induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells by caspase-8 dependent mechanisms.