Differential effects of trivalent and pentavalent arsenicals on cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in normal human epidermal keratinocytes

There is strong evidence from epidemiologic studies of an association between chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) and hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis, and neoplasia in the skin. Although it is generally accepted that methylation is a mechanism of arsenic detoxification, recent studies have suggested that methylated arsenicals also have deleterious biological effects. In these studies we compare the effects of inorganic arsenicals (arsenite (iAs([I])) and arsenate (iAs(V))) and trivalent and pentavalent methylated arsenicals (methylarsine oxide ((MAsO)-O-III), complex of dimethylarsinous acid with glutathione (DMAs(III)GS), methylarsonic acid (MAsV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAsV)) in human keratinocyte cultures. Viability testing showed that the relative toxicities of the arsenicals were as follows: iAs(III) > (MAsO)-O-III > DMAs(III)GS > DMAsV > MAsV > iAs(V). Trivalent arsenicals induced an increase in cell proliferation at concentrations in the 0.001 to 0.01 muM range, while at high concentrations (>0.5 muM) cell proliferation was inhibited. Pentavalent arsenicals did not stimulate cell proliferation. As seen in the viability studies, the methylated forms of As-V were more cytotoxic than iAs(V). Exposure to low doses of trivalent arsenicals stimulated secretion of the growth-promoting cytokines, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. DMAsV reduced cytokine secretion at concentrations at which proliferation and viability were not affected. These data suggest that methylated arsenicals, products of the metabolic conversion of inorganic arsenic, can significantly affect viability and proliferation of human keratinocytes and modify their secretion of inflammatory and growth-promoting cytokines. (C) 2001 Academic Press.