OBJECTIVETo address the question if apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor 1 (APE/Ref-1) involved in preventing spiral ganglion cells oxidative damage after oxidative stress.

METHODSPrimary cultured rat spiral ganglion cells were infected with the adenovirus containing APE/Ref-1 for 48 h, then treated with H2O2 (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 300 micromol/L) for 1 h, and finally changed back into normal medium. Western blot were used to detect the level of APE/Ref-1 protein in the infected cells to ensure APE/Ref-1 over expression as a result of adenovirus infection. The cell viability was determined by MTT and the apoptosis of spiral ganglion cells was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSWestern blot showed that infection of adenovirus resulted in APE/Ref-1 over expression in the spiral ganglion cells. Over expression of APE/Ref-1 significantly improved cell viability in cultures treated with different concentration H2O2 from 50 to 300 micromol/L However, the apoptosis of cells was significantly inhibited.

CONCLUSIONSOver expression of APE/Ref-1 could protect spiral ganglion cells from oxidative damage.