INVESTIGATIONS ON THE MECHANISM OF CHLORPROMAZINE PHOTOTOXICITY: EFFECTS ON LYSOSOMES OF CULTURED HUMAN FIBROBLASTS

Abstract The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and UVA on lysosomes of cultured normal human fibroblasts has been investigated. Acid phosphatase (ACPase) activity in 12 000 g pellet of cells treated with CPZ (10 μg/m l ) and UVA (6 × 10⁴ J/m²) was found to be decreased as compared with non-treated, CPZ or UVA treated control cells. This decrease, however, was not accompanied by a concomitant increase in ACPase activity in the 12 000 g supernatant. The addition of Triton X-100 to cells pretreated with CPZ + UVA resulted in only a moderate increase in ACPase activity of the 12 000 g supernatant. ACPase activity of the cells incubated in media containing preirradiated CPZ was also found to he decreased. These results indicate that CPZ + UVA directly inactivate lysosomal enzymes, possibly without affecting the membrane.