PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate whether the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligand troglitazone in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) enhances the apoptotic response of DLD-1 colon cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS The effects of troglitazone, PDT, and troglitazone in combination with PDT on cell viability and apoptosis were assessed in DL...

BACKGROUND Propofol and barbiturates are both known to protect cells of several organs against ischemia/reperfusion injury, but there are few reports on any possible protective effects on human hepatocytes. We investigated the activities of both agents on human hepatic SNU761 cells under hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidative stress. METHODS To determine whether propofol and pentobarb...

Considering the therapeutic values of bioflavonoids in colon cancer treatment, six 2'-hydroxy chalcones (C1-C6) were synthesized, characterized and screened for in vitro cytotoxicity on human colon carcinoma (HCT116) and African green monkey kidney epithelial cells (Vero). Only C5 showed selective cytotoxicity against HCT116 cells. Other potent cytotoxic compounds were C1, C2 and C3. Further sc...

BACKGROUND Antineoplastic phospholipids (ALPs) represent a promising class of drugs with a novel mode of action undergoes rapid turnover in the cell membrane of tumors, interfering with lipid signal transduction, inducing cell death. The aim of this study was to investigate the synthetic phosphoethanolamine (Pho-s) as a new anticancer agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell viability and morphology...

PURPOSE To determine the effect of human serum factors on mitomycin-C (MMC) cytotoxicity in cultured human subconjunctival Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. METHODS Fibroblast monolayers were treated with 5-minute applications of mitomycin-C (0.4 mg/mL) and incubated in culture medium with or without additional human serum. Fibroblast apoptosis was quantified by direct cell counts based on nuclear...

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 251 HIV-positive drug abusers of known clinical stage and from 40 healthy donors were tested for conventional immunologic markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD14, CD16/CD56, CD45 and HLA-DR). Additional cell parameters and the occurrence of spontaneous apoptosis (programmed cell death) were investigated on freshly isolated PBMC by flow cytometric measur...

BACKGROUND Allicin, a primary ingredient of garlic, has been proposed to possess cardioprotective properties, which are commonly mediated by improved endothelial function. METHODS To investigate the effect and mechanism of allicin on the apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we used Propidium iodide (PI) staining and Annexin V/ PI staining assays to establish a model o...

AIMS We investigated the protective effects of agmatine against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced apoptosis in transformed rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5 cell line). MAIN METHODS The RGC-5 cells were exposed to 50 ng/mL TNF-alpha for 48 h with or without presence of 100 microM agmatine as indicated. Cell viability was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Double staining...

BACKGROUND Translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is a modification of the lipid architecture occurring in sperm. This is one of the earliest signs of apoptosis that can be monitored by the calcium-dependent binding of annexin V. METHODS AND RESULTS Flow cytometric analysis of annexin V binding was performed. Calcium ionophore A2318...