Effect of Carminomycin on the Viability of Fibroblasts from Patients with Regular Trisomy 21

Abstract

The sensitivity of three human fibroblast lines, trisqmic with respect to chromosome 21, to an anthracycline antibiotic carminomycin was compared with that of a normal fibroblast line using a ⁵¹Cr release assay. It was found that for an intermediate antibiotic concentration (10μM) the sensitivity of trisomic fibroblasts, of increased content of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase was lower. These results suggest a role for superoxide-mediated membrane damage in the cytotoxic action of anthracycline antibiotics.

Key Words:

• Carminomycin
• fibroblasts. trisomy 21
• Doun's syndrome