Yessotoxin (YTX) is a marine polyether toxin previously described as a phosphodiesterase (PDE) activator in fresh human lymphocytes. This toxin induces a decrease of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels in fresh human lymphocytes in a medium with calcium (Ca(2+) ), whereas the contrary effect has been observed in a Ca(2+) -free medium. In the present article, the effect of YTX in K-562 lymphocytes cell line has been analysed. Surprisingly, results obtained in K-562 cell line are completely opposite than in fresh human lymphocytes, since in K-562 cells YTX induces an increase of cAMP levels. YTX cytotoxicity was also studied in both K-562 cell line and fresh human lymphocytes. Results demonstrate that YTX does not modify fresh human lymphocytes viability, whereas in K-562 cells, YTX has a highly cytotoxic effect.
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