Nerve growth factor and forskolin prevent H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by glutathione independent mechanism

PC12 cells died by apoptosis at relatively low concentrations of H2O2, of which cytotoxicity was effectively suppressed by nerve growth factor (NGF), forskolin, and dbt-cAMP. Treatment with NGF or forskolin for 24 h increased the level of cellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) by 1.6-2.0-fold. However, both NGF and forskolin protected cells against H2O2-stress even when cellular GSH was depleted by treatment with L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO). The GSH-independent protection effects of NGF and forskolin did not require new protein or RNA synthesis. Exogenous expression of an oncogenic ras suppressed apoptosis caused by H2O2 indicating that Ras protein also plays a role in suppressing apoptosis caused by oxidative radical stress.