Butylene fipronil induces apoptosis in PC12 murine nervous cells via activation of p16-CDK4/6-cyclin D1 and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Butylene fipronil (BFPN) is a phenylpyrazole insecticide, acting at the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor. Here, we show that BFPN inducedcytotoxicity in PC12 murinenervous cells, which lacks GABA receptor. Treatment with BFPN for 48 hours significantly enhanced G0/G1 arrest and induced apoptosis. BFPN decreased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK4 and CDK6) and increased P16 and cyclin D1. Simultaneously, Bcl-2 protein was declined while Bax and cytochrome c were significantly enhanced in BFPN-treated groups. The apoptotic enzymes caspase-8, -9, and -3 were also activated by BFPN. Furthermore, treatment with BFPN significantly stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and pretreatment with antioxidant diphenyleneiodonium, substantially reduced cell death. Overall, these results suggest that BFPN is effective to induce G0/G1-phase arrest and apoptosis in PC12 murine nervous cell. Stimulating ROS generation and activation of P16-CDK4/6-cyclin D1 and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway may participate in the cytotoxicity of BFPN.