Antioxidants Prolong Survival of Lymphocytes

The trace metals (antioxidants) were studied to elucidate their effects to prolong lymphocyte survival by preventing programmed cell death (apoptosis), these trace metals; ZnCl2 (4.77x10-5 M), CuSO4 (15x10-6 M) were added to the lymphocyte cultures on the third day in RPMI media. H2O2 was used to promote apoptosis.
Apoptosis was assessed morphologically (by phase contrast microscopy and DNA quantitation) and biochemically (MDA production, thiol, and selenium consumption). In this study which includes 31 samples in the control group and 31 in the test group, lymphocyte apoptosis was found to be associated with generation of free radicals and that the antioxidants significantly inhibit apoptotic process. It was noted that H2O2 enormously accelerates apoptosis.