Iso mitigates the pro-apoptotic effects of ox-LDL on mitochondrial injuries, caspase-3 activation, and TUNEL-positive cells in THP-1-derived macrophages.

<p>THP-1-derived macrophages were pretreated with the indicated doses of Iso for 8 h and then exposed to ox-LDL (100 μg/ml) for 24 h. (A) Representative images showing macrophages stained with JC-1 dye as observed by fluorescence microscopy. (B) Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was determined by TUNEL assay. (C) MTP in each group was calculated as the ratio of red to green fluorescence. (D) The TUNEL apoptotic index was determined by calculating the ratio of TUNEL-positive cells to total cells. (E) Caspase-3 activity was detected using a fluorimetric assay. Results are represented as the mean ± SD from three independent experiments. ^<i>##</i><i>P</i> < 0.01 <i>vs</i>. control; <i>*P</i> < 0.05, <i>**P</i> < 0.01 <i>vs</i>. ox-LDL-treated cells.