Apoptotic Response of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Dose Dependent Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticide-Monocrotophos

The severe health implications associated with the exposure of organophosphate pesticides are highly pronounced owing to their indiscriminate use. Monocrotophos, a predominantly used organophosphate pesticide, is a hazardous chemical that predisposes the exposed population towards multiple health disorders. We investigated the toxic effects of MCP on human mesenchymal stem cells to ascertain its overall detrimental effects on the normal physiology. There was a remarkable reduction in the cell viability accompanied with increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions with the increasing exposure concentrations. The decreased cell viability is probably an outcome of monocrotophos induced apoptotic cell death indicated by elevated expression of Bax and caspase-3 and reduced BCl₂ expression and as such calls for a stringent abatement in its haphazard use to prevent the incidence of many life threatening ailments.