Effects of astaxanthin on expression of apoptosis and oxidative stress related genes in H2O2 induced oxidative stress BE(2)-C human neuroblastoma cell line

Abstract

Antioxidants may affect the apoptosis induced by oxidative stress experimental models. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of astaxanthin on expression of apoptosis and oxidative stress-related genes in H2O2 induced oxidative stress BE(2)-C human neuroblastoma cell line. This experimental study consisted of six groups including control, H2O2 induced oxidative stress control, 100 mM vitamin C intervention, 25 μM astaxanthin intervention (Ax1), 50 μM astaxanthin intervention (Ax2) and 100 μM astaxanthin intervention (Ax3). Real-time PCR was used to study the expression of BAX, BCL2, Caspase3 (CAS3), P53, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX), catalase (CAT) and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2). According to the results, among the apoptosis-related genes, CAS3 was down-regulated in groups vitamin C, Ax1 and Ax2 compared with H2O2 group, while P53 was down-regulated only in group vitamin C (P < 0.05). Among the oxidative stress-related genes, GPX was up-regulated in groups Ax1, Ax2 and Ax3 compared with H2O2 group, while all the experimental groups showed up-regulation for CAT and NRF2 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, astaxanthin as a powerful antioxidant could inhibit apoptosis via amelioration of CAS3 gene which might be through amelioration of some antioxidant-related genes.