Nanomolar concentration of triclocarban increases the vulnerability of rat thymocytes to oxidative stress

It was recently reported that triclocarban was absorbed significantly from soap used during showering in human subjects and that its C(max) in their whole blood ranged from 23 nM to 530 nM. We revealed that a nanomolar concentration (300 nM) of triclocarban potentiated the cytotoxicity of 300 µM H(2)O(2) in rat thymocytes by using cytometric techniques with appropriate fluorescent probes. Although 300 nM triclocarban did not itself increase the population of dead cells (cell lethality), it facilitated the process of cell death induced by H(2)O(2), resulting in a further increase in the population of dead cells. Nanomolar concentrations (300 nM or higher) of triclocarban significantly decreased the cellular content of nonprotein thiol (glutathione), which has a protective role against oxidative stress. Triclocarban at 300 nM or higher increased the cell vulnerability to oxidative stress. The results may suggest that nanomolar concentration (300 nM or higher) of triclocarban affects some cellular functions although there is no evidence for adverse effects of triclocarban in humans at present.