DNA damage and oxidative stress in human B lymphoblastoid cells after combined exposure to hexavalent chromium and nickel compounds

In the present study, human B lymphoblastoid cells were exposed to potassium dichromate and/or nickel chloride for 24h or 48h. The cell viability and DNA damage induced by these compounds was measured with the CCK-8 assay and Comet assay, respectively. In addition, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using commercially available kits. Our results indicated that potassium dichromate could decrease cell viability and induce DNA damage in human B lymphoblastoid cells in a time – and concentration – dependent manner, but the toxicity of nickel chloride was not so obvious at concentrations used in our study. The results of ROS showed that both two compounds could only induce weak elevation of ROS level, but MDA levels were significantly enhanced. Antagonistic effects of cytotoxicity were mainly found between Cr (VI) and Ni (II), and synergistic effects of DNA damage and oxidative stress were partially found between these two compounds. Moreover, there were good correlations between the results of comet assay and the results of oxidative stress assays. It is suggested that synergistic DNA damage induced by simultaneously exposure of hexavalent chromium and nickel compounds is possibly related to oxidative stress.