Subcellular damage kinetics within co-cultivated WI38 and VA13-transformed WI38 human fibroblasts following 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX formation.

The generation of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in cells can be induced by externally applied 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), with that bypassing the feedback control mechanism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the onset of destructive changes in living cocultivated WI38 and VA13-transformed WI38 human fibroblasts following ALA incubation, PpIX production and subsequent irradiation by white halogen light with a dose of 2.2 kJ/m2.