Hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis in SV-40 transformed human salivary gland acinar cells

We aim to determine whether oxidants induced apoptosis in SV-40 transformed human acinar cells (NS-SV-AC) and to investigate the effects of mitochondria signaling on this process. Morphologic changes of NS-SV-AC after 24h treatment of H(2)O(2) were determined by fluorescence microscope. The expression of caspase 3, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and cytochrome c released from mitochondria were measured by western blotting. Hydrogen peroxide elicited typical apoptotic morphologic changes (chromatic condensation, nucleus fragmentation). Cytochrome c was significantly augmented in the cytoplasm, caspase 3 and PARP were cleaved by H(2)O(2) treatment. Hydrogen peroxide might induce NS-SV-AC apoptosis in a low concentration and the mitochondria-mediated signal transduction pathway is associated with this process.