title: The apoptotic effects of mitomycin C on human endometrial cell cultures and reversal of its effects by beta-carotene and folic acid.
abstract: Apoptosis is a complex process involving a variety of mechanisms and it has been shown to be a response of cells to various chemical agents including chemotherapeutic ones. We aimed to induce DNA breaks and apoptosis in cultured endometrial stromal cells by mitomycin C (MMC), a chemotherapeutic agent, and also we aimed to observe the effects of beta-carotene and folic acid on MMC-induced apoptosis. Cultured endometrial stromal cells were exposed to MMC for 48 and 72 hours and in order to reverse MMC effects, we added beta-carotene and folic acid to the cultures. DNA fragmentation was observed in all cells. Apoptotic cell ratios and caspase-3 activity were observed to be dependent on exposure time. Ultrastructural examinations revealed positive effects of beta-carotene and folic acid, however they were not sufficient enough to prevent apoptosis in all cells. Beta-carotene profoundy reduced caspase-3 activity whereas folic acid did not seem to have a similar effect. As apoptosis involves several mechanisms, in a cell in which all these mechanisms are triggered, we think that antioxidants and DNA repair agents alone are not enough to reverse all of them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Kubilay sokak No: 36, Maltepe-Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karabay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oktem
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Take
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Atac
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D016685:Mitomycin; D005492:Folic Acid