The polymerization agent, 2-methyl-4'-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone induces caspases-3/7 in human blood mononuclear cells in vitro.

Our previous studies detected the presence of a photoinitiator 2-methyl-4'-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone (MTMP) in an intravenous (i.v.) injection bag solution. Importantly, MTMP has demonstrated cytotoxicity for normal human peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNC). Cell death pathways have two well-known modes, apoptosis and necrosis. But it has not been clear whether MTMP induced apoptosis or necrosis in normal human PB MNC. In the present in vitro study, we examined normal human PB MNC for the frequencies of apoptosis and necrosis and changes upon exposure to MTMP. We observed time-dependent changes in MNC viability with MTMP. We also assessed the activity of caspases-3/7. The results demonstrated that MTMP induced apoptosis in normal human PB MNC after 24 h. In addition, MTMP induced caspases-3/7 in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, we suggest that MTMP induces apoptosis in a caspase-dependent pathway in vitro.