N-acetylcysteine attenuates PM2.5 -induced apoptosis by ROS-mediated Nrf2 pathway in human embryonic stem cells

The Science of the Total Environment
Lifang JinBaowei Hu

Abstract

While the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on embryonic toxicity are widely accepted, its exact mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated, which partially attribute to lack of ideal research model. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the capacity to differentiate into all cell types of three germ layers. Thus, they are ideal resources for the reproductive toxicity assessment in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PM2.5 exposure on the oxidative stress and apoptosis of human ESCs (hESCs) and its possible mechanism. Our results showed that strong cytotoxicity high reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and fragmentation of nuclei were observed in the PM2.5-treated hESCs. Meanwhile, up-regulation of apoptosis as well as down-regulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway were also observed after PM2.5 treatment. However, we did not detect significant expression change or phosphorylation of Akt and Erk in PM2.5-treated hESCs. Interestingly, scavenging of PM2.5-induced ROS by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could block cell apoptosis and rescue the activity of Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PM2.5 is toxic to hESCs by inhibition of ROS-mediated Nrf2 pathway activity. Our findings suggest activ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 7, 2021·Stem Cell Reviews and Reports·Hesam Saghaei BagheriReza Rahbarghazi
Apr 10, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Mohammad Ehsan Taghavizadeh YazdiSeyed Hadi Mousavi
May 11, 2021·Frontiers in Pharmacology·Hao DingJinmei Piao
Jul 9, 2020·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Bolu ChenHengyi Xu

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Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis