Scutellarin protects PC12 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

The present study investigated the effects of scutellarin on oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis in PC12 cells. Exposure of cells to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) triggered a typical apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation, DNA loss and externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). This treatment also caused significant elevation of oxidative stress characterized by intracellular accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Preincubation of cells with scutellarin significantly inhibited the fragmentation and loss of DNA, the externalization of PS, and decreased the percentage of cell apoptosis. Also, intracellular accumulations of ROS and MDA resulting from H₂O₂ exposure were significantly reduced by scutellarin. These findings suggest that scutellarin exerts significant protection against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, which might be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-mediated disorders.     

Scutellarin protects PC12 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

The present study investigated the effects of scutellarin on oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis in PC12 cells. Exposure of cells to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) triggered a typical apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation, DNA loss and externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). This treatment also caused significant elevation of oxidative stress characterized by intracellular accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Preincubation of cells with scutellarin significantly inhibited the fragmentation and loss of DNA, the externalization of PS, and decreased the percentage of cell apoptosis. Also, intracellular accumulations of ROS and MDA resulting from H2O2 exposure were significantly reduced by scutellarin. These findings suggest that scutellarin exerts significant protection against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, which might be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-mediated disorders.     

氯化钴诱导PC12细胞凋亡的分子机制

目的确定氯化钴(CoCl2)诱导PC12细胞凋亡的分子机制。方法500μmolLCoCl2诱导PC12细胞24h后,检测活性氧(ROS)生成量的变化以及抗氧化剂N乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)、二硫代苏糖醇(DTT)对细胞存活率和ROS生成量的影响;琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测NAC、DTT对CoCl2诱导PC12细胞DNA片段化的影响;利用RTPCR法检测凋亡相关基因bclxl和bax在PC12细胞调亡过程中的表达及NAC、DTT对基因表达的影响;化学发光法检测NAC、DTT对Caspase3表达的作用。结果在CoCl2诱导PC12细胞凋亡中,ROS生成量明显上升,为正常时的2.92倍;NAC、DTT可提高细胞存活率,由53.1%上升为94.8%和92.3%(P<0.01),并有效抑制ROS的生成,为正常时的24.2%和82.1%(P<0.01);同时抑制DNA片段化的发生。bclxl在细胞凋亡过程中表达明显下降,bax表达无明显变化;NAC和DTT可使bclxl的表达明显上升。Caspase3在细胞凋亡中被激活,NAC、DTT可抑制Caspase3的表达(P<0.01)。结论ROS介导了CoCl2诱导的PC12细胞凋亡,这一过程与抑制bclxl表达,激活Caspase3有关。     

Carthamus,Salvia and Stachys species protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

Context: Finding effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases is of utmost importance for the aging population. Plants growing in Iran are rich sources of antioxidants and active phytochemicals.

Objective: The protective capacity of plants, with a special focus on those with reported antioxidant or neuroprotective potential or nervous system-related applications in folk medicine, was tested against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Materials and methods: Aerial parts of 20 plants including Carthamus, Salvia, and Stachys species were extracted with 80% methanol and dichloromethane and preincubated with neuronal PC12 cells for 3?h. Oxidative stress and apoptosis were induced by hydrogen peroxide (75?µM, 1?h exposure). Cell viability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by MTT and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assays, respectively, while apoptosis was determined by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining by a flow cytometer.

Results: Eighty percent methanol extracts of Carthamus oxyacantha Bieb. (Asteraceae), Salvia santolinifolia Boiss. (Lamiaceae), and Salvia sclarea L. (Lamiaceae) at the concentration of 100?μg/ml showed significant neuroprotection in the MTT assay by 38.7, 34.7, and 39.5%, respectively, and inhibited intracellular ROS by 48.6, 61.9, and 61.4%, respectively. The first two extracts also significantly inhibited apoptosis. Dichloromethane extracts of C. oxyacantha and Stachys pilifera Benth. (Lamiaceae) at the concentration of 25?μg/ml showed neuroprotection by 27.5 and 26.5%, respectively, and inhibited ROS by 44.5 and 39.4%, respectively.

Conclusion: The above-mentioned plants seem to have important biological activities and their further study may lead to the discovery of new natural therapeutics useful against disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases.     

Oxidative mechanisms contribute to nanosize silican dioxide-induced developmental neurotoxicity in PC12 cells

Neurotoxicity was investigated in nano-SiO₂-treated cultured PC12 cells, an in vitro neuronal cell model, in order to define a relatively safe dose range for its application. The following were observed in the present study: (1) A dose-dependent increase in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a corresponding decrease in the level of glutathione (R² = 0.965) suggesting 20- and 50-nm SiO₂-induced free radical generation and glutathione depletion. (2) A dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability that was associated with elevation of ROS level, especially after 24-h nano-SiO₂ exposure (R² = 0.965), suggesting the role of oxidative stress on nano-SiO₂ induced cell death. (3) An increase in the level of thiobarbituric-acid reactive species that correlated reversely with cell viability of the PC12 cells treated with nano-SiO₂ (R² = 0.945) suggesting nano-SiO₂-induced membrane damage caused by lipid peroxidation. (4) A dose-dependent increase in sub-G1 population in SiO₂-exposed cells along with cell shrinkage and nuclear condensation from morphological examination suggesting nano-SiO₂-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, nano-SiO₂ exposure diminished the ability of neurite extension in response to nerve growth factor in treated PC12 cells. In summary, SiO₂ nanoparticle exposure resulted in dose-dependent neurotoxicity in cultured PC12 cells that was probably associated with oxidative stress and induced apoptosis.     

咯利普兰对H_2O_2致PC12细胞氧化应激损伤的保护作用

目的探讨PDE4抑制剂咯利普兰(rolipram)对H2O2致PC12细胞氧化应激损伤的保护作用及其作用机制。方法以H2O2损伤PC12细胞为氧化应激损伤模型,MTT法检测细胞存活率;碘化丙啶(Propidium iodide,PI)染色流式细胞术检测细胞周期变化;化学比色法测定细胞清除羟自由基(·OH)和超氧阴离子自由基(O2·)的能力;以及培养上清液中的丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)和一氧化氮(NO)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性。Western blot和Real-time RT-PCR检测细胞内硫氧还蛋白(Trx)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)的表达。结果咯利普兰能明显提高H2O2损伤的PC12细胞存活率,恢复细胞增殖;提高细胞清除·OH和O2·的能力;降低MDA和NO含量,提高GSH含量和SOD活性;使Trx蛋白和mRNA表达增加,同时下调iNOS蛋白和mRNA表达。结论咯利普兰对H2O2致PC12细胞损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制可能与提高PC12细胞的抗氧化能力相关。     

氧化应激致PC12细胞凋亡的信号传导途径的研究进展

PC12细胞被广泛用于神经细胞功能、分化、凋亡和神经递质分泌,以及潜在的分子机制的研究。氧化应激可导致PC12细胞凋亡,其作用方式为激活对氧化还原反应敏感的细胞信号传导,主要与丝裂原活化蛋白激酶、线粒体凋亡及NF-κB信号传导途径有关。本文综述了氧化应激致PC12细胞凋亡的信号传导途径,旨在为神经系统氧化应激相关疾病的抗氧化剂药物治疗和凋亡信号途径药物干预治疗提供理论依据。     

Aspartame-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells

Aspartame is an artificial sweetner added to many low-calorie foods. The safety of aspartame remains controversial even though there are many studies on its risks. In this study, to understand the physiological effects of trace amounts of artificial sweetners on cells, the effects of aspartame on apoptosis were investigated using a PC12 cell system. In addition, the mechanism of apoptosis induced by aspartame in PC12 cells and effects on apoptotic factors such as cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor, and caspase family proteins were studied by Western blotting and RT-PCR.Aspartame-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, aspartame exposure increased the expressions of caspases 8 and 9, and cytochrome c. These results indicate that aspartame induces apoptosis mainly via mitochondrial pathway involved in apoptosis due to oxigen toxicity.     

Tempol attenuates cocaine-induced death of PC12 cells through decreased oxidative damage

The association between cocaine administration and induction of oxidative stress in different brain regions suggests that oxidative damage is an important factor participating in cocaine disruption of normal central nervous system functions. In order to deal with this topic, brain penetrating exogenous antioxidants were suggested as a tool to prevent cocaine-induced oxidative damage and behavioral changes. Lately, we have shown that Tempol, a stable nitroxide radical reduced oxidative damage and attenuated the development and expression of cocaine psychomotor sensitization. To examine whether nitroxides, represented by Tempol, can exhibit protective effects against cocaine-induced cell death and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cocaine-induced oxidative damage, we used the well established PC12 cell line model. The results showed that (1) cocaine induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner (2) and that it was reduced significantly by the stable nitroxide radical Tempol. Furthermore, (3) Tempol significantly inhibited oxidative damage induced by cocaine as reflected by mitochondrial superoxide radical and peroxide enhancement. Finally, (4) Tempol restored the total scavenging capacity which was reduced by cocaine in PC12 cells. Cumulatively, these results suggest that nitroxides such as Tempol can attenuate oxidative damage and cell death induced by cocaine and that PC12 cells can be used as an in vitro model to further investigate the precise molecular mechanism of these compounds.     

银杏叶标准提取物对H2O2诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用

目的：探讨银杏叶标准提取物EGB761对过氧化氢（H2O2）诱导大鼠肾上腺髓质嗜铬瘤细胞（PC12细胞）凋亡的保护作用及可能的机制。方法：PC12细胞常规培养生长至对数期,进行如下分组试验：正常对照组（NS）,H2O2组（H2O2,200μmol/LH2O2）,低剂量EGB761组（GL,10μg/mlEGB761＋H2O2）,中剂量EGB761组（GM,20μg/mlEGB761＋H2O2）,高剂量EGB761组（GH,50μg/mlEGB761＋H2O2）。用四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）比色法测定PC12细胞活力;流式细胞仪测定PC12细胞凋亡率;分光光度计测定过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）、总超氧化物岐化酶（T-SOD）活力和抗氧化能力（T-AOC）以及丙二醛（MDA）含量;Western blot法测定胞浆内Bcl-2、Bax以及Caspase-3的表达。结果：与正常对照组比较,H2O2组的PC12细胞的活力明显降低,细胞凋亡率显著增加（P〈0.05）。与H2O2组比较,EGB761低、中、高组的PC12细胞活力显著增强,且呈剂量依赖关系（P〈0.05）;GM组和GH组CAT,GSH-Px,T-SOD和活性和T-AOC均显著提高（P〈0.05）,MDA含量显著下降（P〈0.05）,GL组T-SOD活力和T-AOC水平升高以及MDA含量下降（P〈0.05）,而CAT和GSH-Px活力无显著变化（P〈0.05）。与H2O2组比较,EGB761低、中、高组PC12细胞的Bcl-2的表达量增加,Bax的表达量下降,Bcl-2/Bax的比值显著增加（P〈0.05）,Caspase-3的表达显著降低（P〈0.05）。结论：H2O2可诱导PC12细胞凋亡,EGB761能显著抑制H2O2诱导PC12细胞凋亡并对细胞有保护作用;EGB761有较强的抗氧化能力,通过其抗氧化作用改善H2O2诱导的氧化应激状态,并能显著提高Bcl-2/Bax的比值,抑制Caspase-3的活化,发挥保护作用。     

Stevioside enhances apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in PC12 cells

In the laboratory, using a PC12 cell system, studies have been conducted on the effects of various chemicals on apoptosis, as it is considered to be an essential part of normal development, maintenance, and defense in organisms. Stevioside is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. Since it is widely used as a sugar replacement, it was decided to evaluate the toxicological effects of low concentrations of stevioside on apoptosis induced by serum deprivation using the PC12 cell system. It was found that based on data from DNA electrophoresis and TUNEL signal assays stevioside enhanced apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. This enhancement was caused by increased expression of Bax and of cytochrome c released into the cytosol. These findings suggest that stevioside affects the regulation of the normal apoptotic condition. Further investigation will be needed to clarify the detailed mechanism of the enhancement due to the treatment with stevioside.     

Propofol attenuates oxidative stress-induced PC12 cell injury via p38 MAP kinase dependent pathway

Aim： To investigate the neuroprotective effect of propofol and its intracellular mechanism on neurons in vitro. Methods： Cell viability was determined with 3-（4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide reduction. Apoptotic cell death was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining and a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The caspase-3 activity was measured by fluorometric assay. Mitogenactivated protein （MAP） kinase phosphorylation was detected with Western blotting. Results： The pretreatment of rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC 12 with propofol （1-10 μmol/L） resulted in a significant recovery from hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）-induced cell death and the inhibition of H2O2 induced caspase-3 activation and PC12 cell apoptosis. Propofol inhibited the H2O2-induced p38 MAP kinase, but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 activations. Conclusion： Propofol might attenuate H2O2-induced PC 12 cell death through the inhibition of signaling pathways mediated by the p38 MAP kinase.     

Neuroprotective effects of adenosine isolated from Cordyceps cicadae against oxidative and ER stress damages induced by glutamate in PC12 cells

Glutamate has been proven to induce oxidative stress through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased calcium overload which results in neuronal injury, development of neurodegenerative diseases and death. Adenosine is one of the bioactive nucleosides found in Cordyceps cicadae and it has displayed several pharmacological activities including neuroprotection. In this study, the protective effects of adenosine from C. cicadae against glutamate-induce oxidative stress in PC12 cells were evaluated. The exposure of PC12 cells to glutamate (5 mM) induced the formation of ROS, increased Ca²⁺ influx, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and up regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic factor Bax. However, pretreatment with adenosine markedly increased cell viability, decreased the elevated levels of ROS and Ca²⁺ induced by glutamate. Furthermore adenosine increased the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, as well as retained mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced the expression of ERK, p38, and JNK. Overall, our results suggest that adenosine may be a promising potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.     

灯盏乙素对PC12细胞拟缺血性损伤的保护作用研究

目的:研究灯盏乙素对PC12细胞拟缺血性损伤的保护作用,并探讨其作用机制。方法:用连二亚硫酸钠(Na2S2O4)加缺糖复制PC12细胞拟缺血模型。以MTT法检测细胞存活率并进行乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力测定;应用Hoechst33342染色法证明凋亡细胞的存在;应用流式细胞仪检测凋亡细胞的比率及线粒体膜电位的变化;应用激光共聚焦显微镜观察灯盏乙素作用下细胞内钙离子(Ca2+)浓度的变化。结果:在10-7～10-5mol.L-1范围内,灯盏乙素可增加损伤细胞的存活率,降低缺血性损伤所致培养介质内LDH的释放,具有浓度依赖性;灯盏乙素还可降低PC12拟缺血性损伤细胞的凋亡百分率和稳定细胞线粒体跨膜电位,降低细胞内Ca2+浓度,具有浓度依赖性。结论:灯盏乙素对PC12细胞拟缺血性损伤有显著保护作用,其机制可能与稳定细胞线粒体跨膜电位与抑制Ca2+内流有关。     

Flupirtine and retigabine prevent -glutamate toxicity in rat pheochromocytoma PC 12 cells

Flupirtine is an analgesic drug thought to have NMDA receptor antagonistic and antiapoptotic effects. We investigated the effects of Ethyl-2-amino-6-(4-(4-fluorbenzyl)amino)-pyridine-3-carbamamic acid, maleate (flupirtine) and the related compound N-(2-amino-4-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-phenyl)-carbamic acid, ethyl ester) (retigabine) (Desaza-flupirtine) on the toxicity of -glutamate and -3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine ( -DOPA) in rat pheochromocytoma PC 12 cells in vitro. Both drugs (10 μM) markedly decreased nonreceptor-mediated necrotic cell death in PC 12 cultures treated with -glutamate (10 mM) for 72 h. In contrast, apoptosis induced by -DOPA (250 μM) after 48 h was not affected by either substance. While -DOPA elicited massive generation of reactive oxygen intermediates, -glutamate-induced cell death was accompanied by only slightly increased levels of reactive oxygen intermediates. Flupirtine and retigabine exerted anti-oxidative effects in PC 12 cultures independent of their ability to prevent cell death. Further examination of the protective action of flupirtine and retigabine against -glutamate toxicity showed that it had no influence on monoamine oxidase (monoamine: oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.3.4., MAO) activity. Thus, flupirtine and retigabine provided protection against cystine deprivation and -glutamate toxicity but did not protect against -glutamate under cystine-free conditions indicating that both compounds are sufficiently effective to compensate the oxidative stress elicited by cystine deprivation but not excessive activity of monoamine oxidase after -glutamate treatment.     

Pramipexole protects against H2O2-induced PC12 cell death

Pramipexole, a novel non-ergot dopamine (DA) agonist, has been successfully applied to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although the specific cause of PD remains unknown, recent studies have provided evidence that oxidative stress plays a role in the parthenogenesis of the disease. In the present study, we examined the effect of pramipexole on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, 100 μM)-induced PC12 cell death, and the intracellular mechanism of this effect. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay revealed that pretreatment of PC12 cells with pramipexole (1–100 μM) resulted in significant protection against H₂O₂-induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. The protective effect of pramipexole was not affected by pretreatment with the DA receptor antagonists sulpiride, spiperone or domperidone, suggesting that the effect of pramipexole is not mediated by DA receptors. In PC12 cells, pramipexole inhibited H₂O₂-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, as well as H₂O₂-induced cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation with the resultant apoptosis. It was also observed in PC12 cells that H₂O₂ stimulated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, i.e., extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase. Pramipexole inhibited H₂O₂-induced JNK and p38 MAP kinase, but not ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, in these cells experiments with a fluorescent probe, 2-[6-(4'-amino)phenoxy-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl]benzoic acid, revealed that pramipexole, the JNK inhibitor SP600125 and the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 inhibited the generation of H₂O₂-induced reactive oxygen species. Caspase inhibitors Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-IETD-FMK, as well as SP600125 and SB203580, inhibited H₂O₂-induced PC12 cell death to a similar extent as pramipexole. These results suggest that pramipexole exerts a protective effect against oxidative stress-induced PC12 cell death in part through an inhibition of JNK and p38 MAP kinase.     

超氧化物歧化酶对浓缩铀诱发PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用

目的 研究超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）对浓缩铀诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用。方法 在PC12细胞中加入浓缩铀DMEM／F12工作液，计算PC12细胞的内照射吸收剂量。结果 SOD可抑制浓缩铀诱发细胞迅速下降及DNA链断裂，同时提高细胞内游离精脒含量。结论 研究表明外源性SOD在清除自由基、抑制凋亡、保护细胞抗浓缩铀诱发损伤中有着重要作用。     

人参皂苷Rg1对百草枯所致PC12细胞凋亡保护作用及机制

目的:探讨人参皂苷Rgl(ginsenoside Rgl)对百草枯(paraquat,PQ)所致PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用及可能机制。方法:实验分正常对照组、PD(PQ,800μmol·L~(-1))模型组和人参皂苷Rgl低、中、高浓度(5,10,20μmol·L~(-1))组,分别用四唑盐比色试验法(MTT)、流式细胞术测定法和Hoechst 33258染色进行细胞活力、凋亡情况检测,罗丹明123(Rh123)染色检测细胞线粒体膜电位(MMP),用比色法检测Caspase-3酶活性,免疫组化检测细胞色素C(cytC)和Bcl-2的免疫活性。结果:PD模型组PC12细胞活力较空白组显著下降[(46．4±3．6)％vs．(97．0±1．6)％,P＜0．01],凋亡率则显著增加(48．9％vs．12．8％,P＜0．01)。人参皂苷Rgl低、中、高浓度组的细胞活力较PD组显著增加[(53．6±3．4)％,(73．2±3．1)％,(82．2±2．6)％vs．(46．4±3．6)％,P＜0．05],凋亡率则显著下降(39．8％,20．1％,12．3％vs．48．9％,P＜0．05),MMP下降受到抑制(P＜0．05),同时Caspase-3活力和cytC的释放均较PD模型组明显降低(P＜0．05),Bcl-2的活性则明显升高(P＜0．05)。结论:人参皂苷Rgl对PQ诱导的细胞凋亡具有一定的保护作用,其作用机制可能是维持线粒体正常功能,促进Bcl-2的表达,抑制cytC的释放,使Caspase-3激活减弱,从而减少细胞凋亡的发生。     

Deoxynivalenol induces apoptosis in PC12 cells via the mitochondrial pathway

Deoxynivalenol (DON) has broad toxicity in animals and humans. In this study the impact of DON treatment on apoptotic pathways in PC12 cells was determined. The effects of DON were evaluated on (i) typical indicators of apoptosis, including cellular morphology, cell activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and apoptosis ratio in PC12 cells, and on (ii) the expression of key genes and proteins related to apoptosis, including Bcl-2, Bax, Bid, cytochrome C (Cyt C), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), cleaved-Caspase9, and cleaved-Caspase3. DON treatment inhibited proliferation of PC12 cells, induced significant morphological changes and apoptosis, promoted the release of Cyt C and AIF from the mitochondria, and increased the activities of cleaved-Caspase9 and cleaved-Caspase3. Bcl-2 expression decreased with increasing DON concentrations, in contrast to Bax and Bid, which were increased with increasing DON concentration. These data demonstrate that DON induces apoptosis in PC12 cells through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.     

Cannabidiol-induced apoptosis in primary lymphocytes is associated with oxidative stress-dependent activation of caspase-8

We recently reported that cannabidiol (CBD) exhibited a generalized suppressive effect on T-cell functional activities in splenocytes directly exposed to CBD in vitro or isolated from CBD-administered mice. To investigate the potential mechanisms of CBD effects on T cells, we characterized the pro-apoptotic effect of CBD on primary lymphocytes. The apoptosis of splenocytes was markedly enhanced following CBD exposure in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, as evidenced by nuclear hypodiploidity and DNA strand breaks. Exposure of splenocytes to CBD elicited an early production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the peak response at 1 h post CBD treatment. In parallel with the ROS production, a gradual diminishment in the cellular glutathione (GSH) content was detected in CBD-treated splenocytes. Both CBD-mediated ROS production and GSH diminishment were remarkably attenuated by the presence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a thiol antioxidant. In addition, CBD treatment significantly stimulated the activation of caspase-8, which was abrogated in the presence of NAC or GSH. Pretreatment of splenocytes with a cell-permeable inhibitor for caspase-8 significantly attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, CBD-mediated apoptosis, but not ROS production. Collectively, the present study demonstrated that the apoptotic effect of CBD in primary lymphocytes is closely associated with oxidative stress-dependent activation of caspase-8.