ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the protective effect and the underlying mechanism of water soluble coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)against rotenone induced injury on PC12 cells model.Methods PC12 cells were cultured with rotenone,water-soluble CoQ1 0 was added to the culture media 3 hours prior to the rotenone incubation.We determined cell viability by CCK8;reactive oxygen species (ROS)was detected by spectrophotometer;and Bcl-2, Bax,active Caspase-3,Caspase-9 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)were measured by Western blotting after 24-hour rotenone incubation.Results After the treatment by rotenone,cell viability decreased significantly (P＜0.01)and ROS level increased (P＜0.01).CoQ10 could improve PC12 cell viability (P＜0.01)and reduce the level of ROS (P＜0.01).Western blotting experiments showed that CoQ10 could reduce rotenone-induced Caspase-9 (P＜0.05),active Caspase-3 (P＜0.05)and Bax (P＜0.01)expressions,increase the expression of Bcl-2 (P＜0.01),and prevent nuclear translocation of AIF (P＜0.05).Conclusion CoQ10 has a protective effect on rotenone-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells,the mechanism of which may be through scavenging ROS in cells;decreasing caspase-9 ,active caspase-3 and Bax expressions;and increasing the expression of Bcl-2 ;and preventing AIF nuclear translocation.