Photosensitization of Human Cell Cultures by Demethylchlortetracycline

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary Exposure of cultured human amnion cells to some tetracycline compounds produced slight suppression of growth. When drug treated cells were subjected to irradiation with short-wave (2537Å) UV light, those to which demethylchlortetracycline had been added were severely damaged, the effect being moderate at a concentration of 1.6 μg per ml of the drug and marked at a level of 6.4 μg per ml. Methacycline and tetracycline were without significant effect. Exposure to long-wave (3960Ä) UV light did not increase the slight damaging effects of the antibiotics on cells. The phenomenon was observed at concentrations of demethylchlortetracycline commonly present in the serum of patients treated with this agent and appears to be due to cellular injury produced by irradiation on cells which have been sensitized by exposure to drug.