Roles of telomere and telomerase in the process of ginseno- side Rg1 protection against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced senescence in WI-38 cells / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim: To investigate the roles of telomere and telomerase in the process of ginsenoside Rg1 protection against tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced senescence in WI-38 cells. Methods: Senile WI-38 cells were induced by t-BHP in vitro. Cell ultrastructure, cell cycle assay and β-galactosidase cytochemistry staining were used to evaluate cell senescence. Terminal restriction fragment (RTF) length and telomerase activity were delected by southern blotting and PCR-ELISA, respectively. Results: t-BHP induced cell senescence with characteristics of shortenned RTF length. Pretreatment with Rg1 significantly attenuated t-BHP-induced senescence in WI-38 cells. Compared with cells treated with t-BHP alone, Rg1 pretreatment markedly decreased the shortening of RTF length and resulted in telomerase activation. Conclusion: Activation of telomerase and prolonging of RTF length might be involved in the process of ginsenoside Rg1 protection against t-BHP-induced senescence in WI-38 cells.