Polypeptide from Chlamys farreri attenuates murine thymocytes damage induced by ultraviolet B.
OBJECTIVE
Polypeptide from Chlamys farreri (PCF, molecular mass is 879) is a new marine polypeptide compound isolated from Chlamys farreri. This study investigates the possible protective roles and the mechanism of PCF against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced apoptosis in murine thymocytes.


METHODS
The rate of apoptosis and caspase-3 activation was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of stress-response genes c-fos and c-jun was observed by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the release of cytochrome c.


RESULTS
It was found that UVB induced murine thymocyte death. The cells treated with UVB showed an increase in cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activity, as well as in the expression of c-fos and c-jun. In addition, all were involved in UVB-induced cell apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our present observations pointed to the ability of PCF to avert UVB-induced apoptosis in thymocytes by modulating c-fos and c-jun expression, cytochrome c release, and the consequent activation of caspase-3, which were essential components of the UV-induced cell apoptotic pathway. The results suggested that PCF is a promising protective substance against UV radiation.
Chen
Hai-Ying
HY
Department of Pharmacochemistry, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
Chu
Xiao
X
Yan
Chun-Ling
CL
Chen
Xue-Hong
XH
Sun
Mi
M
Wang
Yue-Jun
YJ
Wang
Chun-Bo
CB
Yu
Wen-Gong
WG
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000235:genetics; D016758:Genes, jun / Q000235:genetics; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D049897:Pectinidae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D008419:Materia Medica; D010455:Peptides; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3