Photodynamic properties of meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin in human tumor cells

The photodynamic properties of a second-generation photodynamic sensitizer, meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) were studied by dye-sensitized photoinactivation (650 nm) of HT29 human adenocarcinoma cells in culture. The photocytotoxicity of mTHPC in vitro depended on the presence of molecular oxygen. A strong inhibition of the photocytotoxicity of mTHPC was observed upon addition of sodium azide, a known singlet oxygen quencher. Photocytotoxicity was not inhibited by scavengers of superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. We suggest that mTHPC photosensitizes cell killing predominantly by type II, singlet oxygen-mediated photodynamic reactions. Illumination of cells preloaded with mTHPC induced peroxidation of membrane lipids. Inhibition of photoperoxidation by α-tocopherol (0.1 mM) present during illumination did not result in any decrease in toxicity, suggesting that reactions of lipid peroxidation play only a minor role in the overall photocytotoxic effect of mTHPC.