Quercetin in combating H2O2 induced early cell apoptosis and mitochondrial damage to normal human keratinocytes

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2010-03, Vol.123 (5), p.532-536
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiao-yan, He, Pei-ying, Du, Juan, Zhang, Jian-zhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide - toxicity; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - pathology; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Mitochondria - drug effects; Quercetin - pharmacology; 槲皮素; 线粒体; 细胞凋亡; 角质形成细胞; 过氧化氢
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2010.05.005

Background Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of epidermal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin on the anti-oxidative response and on mitochondrial protection in cultured normal human keratinocytes. Methods Cultured HaCaT cells were treated with different concentrations of H202 （0, 50, 100, 250, 500 pmol/L） for different periods of time （0.5, 1, 2, 4 hours） to establish an oxidative stress model. The cultured HaCaT cells were randomly assigned to control, H2O2, and quercetin＋H2O2 groups. For the quercetin groups, the cells were treated with different concentrations of quercetin （0, 10, 25, 50 umol/L） before exposure to H2O2. Morphological changes of the cells were observed under an inverted microscope and an electron microscope. The cell viability was detected by the MIF method. The cell apoptosis （AnnexinV/propidium iodide double stain） and mitochondrial membrane potential （△ψm） changes were detected by flow cytometry. Results An oxidative stress model of HaCaT cells was established under a suitable concentration （250 umol/L） and treated time of H2O2 （2 hours）. The cell viability and △ψm decreased in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner while the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly increased in the H2O2 groups compared with the control group （P 〈0.05）. The cell viability and △ψm of the quercetin treated group increased （P 〈0.05） and the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased at concentrations of 1-50 umol/L quercetin （P 〈0.01） compared with H2O2 treated group. Conclusion Quercetin can relieve the cell damage and apoptosis from H2O2 induced injury to HaCaT cells by anti-oxidation and mitochondrial protection.