2,3,5-tris(Glutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone (TGHQ), a metabolite of benzene, induces apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. However, the mechanisms by which TGHQ induces apoptosis are unclear, and they were the focus of the present investigation. TGHQ stimulated the rapid formation (30 min) of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HL-60 cells, and co-treatment with catalase or the anti...

In this study we demonstrate that accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for E2F1 mediated apoptosis in ER-E2F1 PC12 pheochromocytoma, and SH-SY5Y and SK-N-JD neuroblastoma stable cell lines. In these cells, the ER-E2F1 fusion protein is expressed in the cytosol; the addition of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) induces its translocation to the nucleus and activation of E2F1target ge...

Objective(s): Heat stress (HS) is a catastrophic stressor that dampens immunity. The current study investigates the effect of dietary administration with camel whey protein (CWP) on apoptotic pathway caused by HS. Materials and Methods: Forty-five male mice were divided into three groups: a control group; HS group; and HS mice that were orally supplemented with CWP (CWP-HS group). Results: We f...

Background: Bax and Bcl-2 are the major members of Bcl-2 family whose play a key role in tumor progression or inhibition of intrinsic apoptotic pathway triggered by mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic members of this family can determine the cellular fate. Methods: In this study, the relative level of mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes was deter...

Introduction: Busulfan as a chemotherapeutic agent causes testicular germinal epithelium depletion and cytotoxicity in germ cells. The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant status, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis-related genetic markers of adult male mouse sperm following busulfan treatment. Materials and Methods: Forty adult NMRI mice (30 ± 5 g) were divided...

Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) may inhibit the growth of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this malignancy have yet to be established. In the present study, we examined the effects of Tan-IIA on human small cell lung cancer H146 cells in vitro. The cytotoxicity of Tan-IIA in H146 cells was measured using the MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potenti...

The mitochondrion plays an important role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. Osthole, a bioactive coumarin derivative extracted from medicinal plants, has been shown to have protective properties in ischemic disease. The aims of the present study were to explore whether Osthole could attenuate myocardial I/R injury and to investigate the potential mechanisms involved. The I/R mod...

Enhancement of radiation response is possible to be achieved by combination treatment with therapeutic drugs. Previously we have shown that As2O3 in combination with ionizing radiation enhanced radiation response in cervical cancer cells. In this study, we further investigated molecular mechanism of synergistic enhancement of radiation response in combination with As2O3. The combination treatme...

Whey protein hydrolysates (WPHs) were prepared with pepsin and trypsin. A PC12 cell model was built to observe the protective effect of WPHs against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. The results indicated that WPHs reduced apoptosis by 14% and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. Flow cytometry was used to assess the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca(2+) levels and the mitochon...