title: [Antagonistic effect of N-acetylcysteine on apoptosis of L-02 hepatocyte induced by Cr(VI) with or without caspase inhibitor].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the antagonistic effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on hexevalent chromium (Cr(VI))-induced apoptosis in L-02 hepatocytes with or without caspase inhibitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  L-02 hepatocytes were randomly divided into a control group, and Cr( VI), Z-VAD-fmk + Cr(VI), NAC + Cr(VI), Z-VAD-fmk + NAC + Cr (VI) four treatment groups, in which L-02 hepatocytes were cultured with Cr (VI) at the dose of 20 micromol/L for 6h. The rates of apoptosis in all groups were detected by flow cytometry (FC) after staining with propidium iodide (PI). The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim) and permeability transition pore (PTP) were determined by fluorescent spectrometer. The DNA damages in hepatocytes were observed by the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cr(VI) significantly induced apoptosis of L-02 hepatocytes at the dose of 20 micromol/L for 6 hours (P < 0.05). However, NAC significantly decreased the rates of apoptosis of L-02 hepatocytes and alleviated the damages to mitochondria and DNA caused by Cr(VI) in L-02 hepatocytes with or without caspase (P < 0.05). However, in comparition with the non caspase-inhibited group, the protective effects of NAC decreased in the caspase-inhibited group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAC could protect the apoptosis of L-02 hepatocyte induced with Cr(VI) with or without caspase inhibitor, and caspase could not play a decisive role in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China. zhiyinsheng1023@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Caigao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xinmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000633:toxicity; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005333:Fetus; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D020169:Caspases; D000111:Acetylcysteine