N-acetylcysteine Protects Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) Cells from Lead-induced Oxidative Stress

Abstract

In vitro administration of lead acetate (PbA) to cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on colony formation. Colony formation was returned to control levels in lead-treated cultures that were supplemented with 1 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-documented synthetic antioxidant. In order to investigate the nature of NAC's protective effect, we measured l-γ-glutamyl-l-cysteinylglycine (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity both in the presence and absence of NAC in lead-exposed CHO cells. Increases in both MDA levels (P < 0.05) and catalase activity (P < 0.05) were observed in cultures that received only PbA, but supplementation with NAC returned these measures to pretreatment levels. The ratio of GSH to GSSG increased in lead-exposed cells incubated in NAC-enhanced media, but declined in cultures treated with PbA only. Our results suggest that NAC can confer protection against lead-induced oxidative stress to CHO cells, possibly through the enhancement of the cell's own antioxidant defense mechanisms.

Department(s)

Chemistry

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0300-483X

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1996 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 1996

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