MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death through formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we investigated the effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC; a well-known antioxidant), L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of GSH synthesis) or diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC; an inhibitor of Cu/Zn-SOD) on MG132-treated Calu-6 or A549 lung cancer cells in relat...

Pyrogallol (PG) as a polyphenol compound induces apoptosis in several types of cells. Here, we investigated the effects of MAPK inhibitors on PG-treated calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells (CPAEC) in relation to cell death, ROS and GSH. PG inhibited the growth of CPAEC and also induced cell death, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; DeltaPsi(m)). PG d...

Antimycin A (AMA) inhibits the growth of various cells via stimulating oxidative stress-mediated death. However, little is known about the anti-growth effect of AMA on normal primary lung cells. Here, we investigated the effects of AMA on cell growth inhibition and death in human pulmonary fibroblast (HPF) cells in relation to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. AMA inhi...

The synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSP) and the development of thermotolerance were studied in Chinese hamster ovary cells in order to determine whether depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) inhibited their expression. Cells were exposed to 100 MMdiethylmaleate/50 H.M buthionine sulfoximine which reduced GSH levels by 95% or more during the experimental time course. HSP synthesis was ...

Dopaminergic neurons in culture are preferentially resistant to the toxicity of glutathione (GSH) depletion. This effect may be due to high intrinsic levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). Here we studied the effects of manipulating GSH and/or BH(4) levels on selective neurotoxicity in organotypic nigrostriatal slice cultures. Following treatments with L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 10-100 micr...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to be involved in many forms of programmed cell death. The role of ROS in cell death caused by oxidative glutamate toxicity was studied in an immortalized mouse hippocampal cell line (HT22). The causal relationship between ROS production and glutathione (GSH) levels, gene expression, caspase activity, and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration was examined. An in...

Thalidomide produces numerous birth defects, the most notable being phocomelia. Mechanisms behind thalidomide-induced malformations have not been fully elucidated, although recent evidence suggests a role for reactive oxygen species. A thalidomide-resistant (rat) and -sensitive (rabbit) species were used to compare potential inherent differences related to oxidative stress that may provide a mo...

Propyl gallate (PG) used in processed food and medicinal preparations has been shown to induce cell death in normal and cancer cells. The inhibition of proteasome function has emerged as a useful strategy to maneuver apoptosis. Here, we investigated the combined effects of PG and MG132 (a proteasome inhibitor) on HeLa cells in relation to cell growth, cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) a...

Heat shock proteins, particularly Hsp70, are produced in response to a number of cellular stresses. The most well known example is exposure to heat, but conditions of oxidative stress have also been shown to induce HSP70 [1; 2; 3] . GSH is one of the most important low molecular weight antioxidants in the cell. Depletion of GSH is known to increase the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in...

The synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSP) and the development of thermotolerance were studied in Chinese hamster ovary cells in order to determine whether depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) inhibited their expression. Cells were exposed to 100 microM diethylmaleate/50 microM buthionine sulfoximine which reduced GSH levels by 95% or more during the experimental time course. HSP synthe...