ABSTRACT
AIM: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
Subject(s)
Materia Medica/pharmacology , Pectinidae/chemistry , Peptides/pharmacology , Thymus Gland/cytology , Ultraviolet Rays , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Apoptosis/radiation effects , Blotting, Western , Caspase 3/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Cytochromes c/metabolism , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , Enzyme Activation/radiation effects , Flow Cytometry , Gene Expression/drug effects , Gene Expression/radiation effects , Genes, fos/genetics , Genes, jun/genetics , Materia Medica/isolation & purification , Mice , Peptides/isolation & purification , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Signal Transduction/radiation effects , Thymus Gland/drug effects , Thymus Gland/radiation effectsABSTRACT
AIM: To study the effect of polypeptide from Chlamys farreri (PCF) on mitochondria of human dermal fibroblasts irradiated by ultraviolet B (UVB) in vitro. METHODS: Malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were determined by biochemical methods. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential was measured by flow cytometry. Ultrastructure of fibroblasts was observed with transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: UVB (1.176 x 10(-4) J/cm(2)) induced mitochondria damage in dermal fibroblast and PCF (0.25%-1%) reduced the damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, PCF also concentration-dependently maintained the stability of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. PCF was able to reduce the MDA formation caused by UVB, meanwhile increased the activities of SOD and GSH-PX. The differences among the PCF groups and UVB model group were significant (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The UVB-induced mitochondria damage was alleviated by PCF in human dermal fibroblasts.