Abstract: To investigate the expression and the activity of factors related to mitochondrial apoptosis in LLC-PK1 cells induced by heat stress,and the time of activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway,we assessed the HSP72, Bcl-2, Bax,AIF,Cyt.c expressions in LLC-PK1 cells by qRT-PCR and Caspase-9,Caspase-3 activity by caspase activity assay kit at 0,2,4,8,16 h after 42℃ heat stress treatment for 1 h.The above factors were also measured in cells cultured at 37℃ as control.Results demonstrated that Bcl-2/Bax and AIF gene expressions and Caspase-3 activity significantly increased from 0 h,and reached the highest point at 2 h after heat stress; HSP72 gene expression and Caspase-9 activity reached the highest point at 0 h;Cyt.c gene expression significantly increased and reached the highest point at 2 h,and all the measured factors returned to normal level at 8 h after heat stress.The above results reveal that mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in LLC-PK1 cells is in a state of activation in 0-8 h after 42℃ heat stress for 1 h and is the most active at 2 h.

Key words: Heat stress, LLC-PK1 cells, Mitochondrial apoptosis

CLC Number: 

• Q78