关键词: 106-126肽段, PC12细胞, 细胞凋亡, 流式细胞术, 方法

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of prion protein 106-126 peptide on inducing apoptosis in differentiated PC12 cells. Methods After differentiated by nerve growth factor (NGF), the PC12 cells were infected by prion protein 106-126 peptide. Cell viability was determined by using the MTT assay and the morphological changes were observed. Apoptotic was detected by morphological changes, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Results Infected by this peptide, cell viability decreased 28.9%. Under light microscope, cells were shrinked and rounded, many cells were divorced from plate wall, some neuraxon shortened and broke. Apoptotic cells which nucleolus shrinked and rounded could be coloured orange by fluorescent colouration. Under electron microscope, chromatin gathered along the inside of the nuclear membrane, vacuole bodies appeared. Apoptotic peak was detected by flow cytometry and the ladder band appeared in DNA electrophoresis. Conclusion Prion protein 106-126 peptide can induce apoptosis in differentiated PC12 cells and present cellular toxicity definitely. It might be a perfect model to study the cellular toxicity of prion protein.

Key words: 106-126 peptide, PC12 cell, apoptosis, flow cytometry, methods