Tumor promoter phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate induces poly ADP-ribosylation in human monocytes.

The tumor promoter phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) induces rapid poly ADP-ribosylation and a drop in cellular NAD concentration in human monocytes. The antioxidants CuZn-superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and butylated-hydroxytoluene inhibit the reaction indicating that active oxygen species produced in the PMA-induced oxidative burst represent intermediates. The inhibitor of ADP-ribosyl-transferase, 3-amino-benzamide, inhibited poly ADP-ribosylation but did not prevent the drop in NAD-levels. PMA also causes the slow accumulation of DNA strand breaks in monocytes. The difference in the kinetics of poly ADP-ribosylation and DNA breakage argues against a simple relationship between the two reactions.