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Exposure to tungsten induces DNA damage and apoptosis in developing B lymphocytes

Leukemia volume 25, pages 1900–1904 (2011)Cite this article

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Tungsten is a unique transition metal owing to its high melting point, conductivity, strength and flexibility. These traits make it an indispensible part of modern life involved in everything from household goods, such as light bulbs and golf clubs, to technologically advanced materials. Until recently, tungsten was considered as a relatively inert metal; however, several investigations suggest that tungsten may have carcinogenic properties. Tungsten exposure has been linked to several leukemia clusters, including the well-publicized one in Fallon, Nevada, as well as Sierra Vista, Arizona and Elk Grove, California.1, 2, 3 These populations undoubtedly had multiple potential exposures, but the contribution of tungsten to the generation of leukemia is unknown.

Tungsten-associated toxicities have been evaluated in a small number of studies. Tungsten altered stimulated cytokine profiles in a human monocytic leukemia cell line.4 In addition, exposure of mature human peripheral blood lymphocytes to tungsten caused an increase in apoptosis and altered cell growth.4 Heavy metal–tungsten alloys increased the tumorigenicity of a non-tumorigenic human osteoblast-like cell line in vitro and tumor incidence in nude mice.5 Embedded tungsten alloy fragments (also containing nickel and cobalt) induced rhabdomyosarcoma tumors in rats within a year,6 but there is no information regarding the contribution of tungsten alone in this study.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Leukemia Research Foundation (KKM). KKM is a chercheur-boursier of the Fonds de la recherche en santé-Québec (FRSQ). ML and ADRK are supported by the CIHR/FRSQ training grant FRN53888 of the McGill Integrated Cancer Research Training Program. LAP is supported by the McGill Systems Biology Training Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    C Guilbert, M Lemaire & K K Mann

  2. Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    A D R Kelly, L A Petruccelli & K K Mann

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  1. C Guilbert
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Correspondence to K K Mann.

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Guilbert, C., Kelly, A., Petruccelli, L. et al. Exposure to tungsten induces DNA damage and apoptosis in developing B lymphocytes. Leukemia 25, 1900–1904 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2011.160

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