Hydrogen peroxide induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway in rat Schwann cells

Oxidative stress is one of the several mechanisms that induces apoptosis in cells. It has been shown that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induces apoptosis in several kinds of cells; however, the role of H₂O₂ in the apoptosis of Schwann cells (SCs) is currently unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether H₂O₂ is capable of inducing apoptosis in SCs and whether or not such an effect is associated with the activation of mitochondrial pathway. We demonstrated that H₂O₂ induces apoptosis in SCs, and is associated with increased release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and the activation of caspase-3 and -9 by up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2. These results suggest a potential role for H₂O₂ in SC injury by triggering apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway under oxidative stress.