Photosensitization to ultraviolet irradiation and selective killing of cells following uptake of pyrene-containing fatty acid.

Cells were incubated with 12-(1-pyrene)-dodecanoic acid (P12), a long-chain fatty acid to which a pyrene ring has been attached covalently. This acid was transported across the plasma membranes of cells and subsequently incorporated into their neutral lipids and phospholipids. Irradiation of these pyrene-containing cells for short periods (0.5-4 min) with ultraviolet light at 366 nm resulted in eventual cell death. Similar irradiation had no effect on cells that had not been exposed to P12. The time of the period of irradiation necessary for inducing the toxic process was related to the quantity of P12 incorporated, the latter being a function of the respective metabolic activity of the individual cell type. The degree of incorporation of P12 into a cell, and consequently its acquired sensitivity to killing by ultraviolet irradiation at 366 nm, was affected by the incubation temperature and addition of non-fluorescent fatty acid, albumin or other serum proteins. Different degrees of incorporation of P12 into various cell types were used for selective killing and elimination of cell populations by irradiation at 366 nm. The combined procedure of preincubation with P12 followed by ultraviolet irradiation thus permitted selection of cell types with a greater resistance to this procedure.