Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of Caspase3 in HepG2 cells

L02 and HepG2 cells were exposed to mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) at concentrations of 6.25-100 mu M. After 48 h treatment, MEHP decreased HepG2 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner and L02 cell viability in the 50 and 100 mu M groups (p<0.01). Furthermore, at 24 and 48 h after treatment, MEHP decreased the glutathione levels of HepG2 cells in all treatment groups and in the Delta psi(m) in L02 and HepG2 cells with MEHP >= 25 mu M (p<0.05 or p<0.01). At 24h after treatment, MEHP induced activation of caspase3 in all treated HepG2 and L02 cells (p<0.05 or p<0.01) except the 100 mu M MEHP treatment group. The increase in the Bax to Bcl-2 ratio suggests that Bcl-2 family involved in the control of MEHP-induced apoptosis in these two cell types. The data suggest that MEHP could induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells through mitochondria- and caspase3-dependent pathways. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.