Gambogic acid induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by modulation of Bcl-2 and Bax in mantle cell lymphoma JeKo-1 cells

Objective： To study the mechanisms in gambogic acid （GA） -induced JeKo-1 human Mantle Cell Lymphoma cell apoptosis in vitro. Methods： The proliferation of GA-treated JeKo-1 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay and Ki-67 immunocytochemical detection. Apopt0sis, cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by flow cytometric analysis. Caspase-3, -8 and -9 were detected by colorimetric assay. Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed by Western blotting. Results： GA inhibited cell growth in a time- and dose- dependent manner. GA induces apoptosis in JeKo- 1 cells but not in normal bone marrow cells, which was involved in reducing the membrane potential of mitochondria, activating caspases-3, -8 and -9 and decreasing the ratio of Bd-2 and Bax without cell cycle arresting. Conclusions： GA induced apoptosis in human MCL JeKo-1 cells by regulating Bcl-2/Bax and activating caspase-3, -8 and -9 via mitochondrial pathway without affecting cell cycle.

3′-Daidzein sulfonate sodium improves mitochondrial functions after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

3′-Daidzein sulfonate sodium is a new synthetic water-soluble compound derived from daidzein（an active ingredient of the kudzu vine root）. It has been shown to have a protective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. We plan to study the mechanism of its protective effect. 3′-Daidzein sulfonate sodium was injected in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Results showed that 3′-daidzein sulfonate sodium significantly reduced mitochondrial swelling, significantly elevated the mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and decreased mitochondrial malondialdehyde levels. 3′-Daidzein sulfonate sodium improved the structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier and reduced blood-brain barrier permeability. These findings confirmed that 3′-daidzein sulfonate sodium has a protective effect on mitochondrial functions after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, improves brain energy metabolism, and provides protection against blood-brain barrier damage.

Quercetin in combating H2O2 induced early cell apoptosis and mitochondrial damage to normal human keratinocytes

Background Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of epidermal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin on the anti-oxidative response and on mitochondrial protection in cultured normal human keratinocytes. Methods Cultured HaCaT cells were treated with different concentrations of H202 （0, 50, 100, 250, 500 pmol/L） for different periods of time （0.5, 1, 2, 4 hours） to establish an oxidative stress model. The cultured HaCaT cells were randomly assigned to control, H2O2, and quercetin＋H2O2 groups. For the quercetin groups, the cells were treated with different concentrations of quercetin （0, 10, 25, 50 umol/L） before exposure to H2O2. Morphological changes of the cells were observed under an inverted microscope and an electron microscope. The cell viability was detected by the MIF method. The cell apoptosis （AnnexinV/propidium iodide double stain） and mitochondrial membrane potential （△ψm） changes were detected by flow cytometry. Results An oxidative stress model of HaCaT cells was established under a suitable concentration （250 umol/L） and treated time of H2O2 （2 hours）. The cell viability and △ψm decreased in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner while the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly increased in the H2O2 groups compared with the control group （P 〈0.05）. The cell viability and △ψm of the quercetin treated group increased （P 〈0.05） and the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased at concentrations of 1-50 umol/L quercetin （P 〈0.01） compared with H2O2 treated group. Conclusion Quercetin can relieve the cell damage and apoptosis from H2O2 induced injury to HaCaT cells by anti-oxidation and mitochondrial protection.