Differential cytotoxicity in mouse epidermal JB6 cells: a potential mechanism for oxidant tumor promotion.

It has been suggested that superior antioxidant defense systems protect promotion-sensitive (p+t) mouse epidermal JB6 clone 41 cells from excessive deleterious effects of oxidants, allowing their clonal expansion in contrast to that of promotion-resistant (p-) clone 30 cells. In support of this concept, we report that oxidants produced by xanthine/xanthine oxidase cause more cytotoxicity, cellular damage, and cell death in p-cells. Cell surface blebbing, an early morphological consequence of oxidative injury, was detected in cultures grown on glass coverslips. While a rise in cytosolic ionized calcium ([Ca2+]i) preceding bleb formation was observed in both p+ and p- cells by digital imaging fluorescence microscopy, elevated levels of [Ca2+]i were sustained longer in p- cells. This increase was dependent on the levels of extracellular ionized calcium ([Ca2+]e) in p+ but not p- cells. We conclude that the superior antioxidant defense or improved Ca2+ buffering of promotable clone 41 cells protects them from more severe deregulation of [Ca2+]i and, as a consequence, from excessive cytotoxicity after exposure to oxidant promoters.