Effect of borax on immune cell proliferation and sister chromatid exchange in human chromosomes

Abstract

Background: Borax is used as a food additive. It becomes toxic when accumulated in the body. It causes vomiting, fatigue and renal failure.

Methods: The heparinized blood samples from 40 healthy men were studied for the impact of borax toxicity on immune cell proliferation (lymphocyte proliferation) and sister chromatid exchange in human chromosomes. The MTT assay and Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) technic were used in this experiment with the borax concentrations of 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.6 mg/ml.

Results: It showed that the immune cell proliferation (lymphocyte proliferation) was decreased when the concentrations of borax increased. The borax concentration of 0.6 mg/ml had the most effectiveness to the lymphocyte proliferation and had the highest cytotoxicity index (CI). The borax concentrations of 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.6 mg/ml significantly induced sister chromatid exchange in human chromosomes (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Borax had effects on immune cell proliferation (lymphocyte proliferation) and induced sister chromatid exchange in human chromosomes. Toxicity of borax may lead to cellular toxicity and genetic defect in human.

Figure 1

The correlation between measured absorbance (mean ± SD) and the various borax concentrations by MTT assay. Mean absorbance related to the numbers of living lymphocytes. The lymphocyte proliferation was decreased when the borax concentration increased. Borax effects on immune cell proliferation (lymphocyte proliferation).

Figure 2

Lymphocyte proliferation in the control group. The black arrows indicated many living lymphocytes in this group.

Figure 3

Lymphocyte proliferation in the 0.2 mg/ml borax concentration experimental subgroup. The black arrows indicated the dead lymphocytes in this subgroup. Borax effects on lymphocyte proliferation.

Figure 4

The correlation between the cytotoxicity index (CI) and the borax concentrations. It showed that the borax concentration of 0.6 mg/ml had the most cytotoxic effectiveness on immune cell proliferation (lymphocyte proliferation).

Figure 5

SCE in the control group. The black arrow indicated SCE in human chromosome.

Figure 6

SCE frequencies in the 0.15 mg/ml (6A), 0.6 mg/ml (6B) borax concentration experimental subgroups. The black arrows indicated SCEs occurred among human chromosomes of these subgroups. The sister chromatid exchange occurrence increased in the borax concentrations of 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.6 mg/ml experimental subgroups comparing with the control group.