Photokinetic and Ultrastructural Studies on Porphyrin Photosensitization of HeLa Cells

Abstract

Liposome-bound haematoporphyrin or haematoporphyrin dimethylester, as well as haematoporphyrin dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline, were added to HeLa cell monolayers at a dose of 1 .mu.g of porphyrin per 105 cells. After 2 min or 20 min incubation liposome-bound porphyrins were accumulated by cells in an about two-fold larger amount than the water-dissolved haematoporphyrin. This caused a more efficient photosensitization of HeLA cells by liposome-delivered porphyrins upon illumination with 366 nm light. Ultrastructural studies of HeLa cells, which had been incubated in a physiological medium for 24 h after the end of irradiation, showed that liposomal porphyrins induce an early and extensive endocytoplasmic damage, leading to swelling of the mitochondria and vesiculation; changes of the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane are also evident, especially in the case of haematoporphrin dimethylester. On the other hand, water-dissolved haematoporphyrin predominantly photosensitizes damage of the plasma membrane. The different pattern of cell photodamage probably reflects a different subcellar distribution of the photosensitizing drugs.