[Comparative antioxidant action on the level of reactive oxygen species in normal and transformed fibroblasts]

We studied the changes in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in normal (3T3) and transformed (3T3-SV40) murine fibroblasts under the antioxidant action for 15 min using fluorescent probe carbo- xy-H2DCFDA. We have shown that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) decreased ROS level in both cellular types. Another antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), caused the prooxidant effects. Both ALA and DHLA in the concentration range of 0.1-1.25 mM increased ROS level in dose dependent manner in both cellular types. The ability of ALA and DHLA to activate hydrogen peroxide production is discussed.