title: Coenzyme Q10 protects astrocytes from ROS-induced damage through inhibition of mitochondria-mediated cell death pathway.
abstract: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) acts by scavenging reactive oxygen species to protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. The present study was designed to examine whether CoQ10 was capable of protecting astrocytes from reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated damage. For this purpose, ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation was used as a tool to induce ROS stress to cultured astrocytes. The cells were treated with 10 and 25 μg/ml of CoQ10 for 3 or 24 h prior to the cells being exposed to UVB irradiation and maintained for 24 h post UVB exposure. Cell viability was assessed by MTT conversion assay. Mitochondrial respiration was assessed by respirometer. While superoxide production and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured using fluorescent probes, levels of cytochrome C (cyto-c), cleaved caspase-9, and caspase-8 were detected using Western blotting and/or immunocytochemistry. The results showed that UVB irradiation decreased cell viability and this damaging effect was associated with superoxide accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization, mitochondrial respiration suppression, cyto-c release, and the activation of both caspase-9 and -8. Treatment with CoQ10 at two different concentrations started 24 h before UVB exposure significantly increased the cell viability. The protective effect of CoQ10 was associated with reduction in superoxide, normalization of mitochondrial membrane potential, improvement of mitochondrial respiration, inhibition of cyto-c release, suppression of caspase-9. Furthermore, CoQ10 enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis. It is concluded that CoQ10 may protect astrocytes through suppression of oxidative stress, prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction, blockade of mitochondria-mediated cell death pathway, and enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis.
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Pathology, Ningxia Medical University and Ningxia Key Laboratory for Cerebrocranial Diseases, Yinchuan, Ningxia, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Pathology, Ningxia Medical University and Ningxia Key Laboratory for Cerebrocranial Diseases, Yinchuan, Ningxia, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Mao-Tao
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Pathology, Ningxia Medical University and Ningxia Key Laboratory for Cerebrocranial Diseases, Yinchuan, Ningxia, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technological Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. ; 3. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Suresh L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technological Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Qing-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Pathology, Ningxia Medical University and Ningxia Key Laboratory for Cerebrocranial Diseases, Yinchuan, Ningxia, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jian-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technological Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: P Andy
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013997:Time Factors; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014451:Ubiquinone; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C024989:coenzyme Q10; C022616:thiazolyl blue
keywords: astrocyte; caspase; coenzyme Q10; mitochondrion; reactive oxygen species; ultraviolet.