Notes: The cytotoxic and negative health effects of E-cigarettes have been minimally explored. This study utilized the ROS-Glo™ and Caspase-Glo® 3/7 Assays to monitor both oxidative stress and caspase activation in an in vitro multicellular model of human airways. (5156)

Notes: The authors investigated the role of the liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in cancer cell survival and metabolic adaptation. The CellTiter-Glo® 2.0, ROS-Glo™ and CellTiter® 96 AQueous One Solution Assays were used to monitor ATP content, reactive oxygen species and cell proliferation in LKB1 and AMPK knockdown cells. Additionally, the pGL3 Vector and Dual-Luciferase® Assay System were used to monitor matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter activity. (5162)

Notes: These authors investigated silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiNPs) as a potential cancer treatment and identified the mechanism mediating cancer cell death. The Caspase-Glo® 3/7, Caspase-Glo® 9, CellTiter-Glo® luminescent cell-viability, ROS-Glo™, and Caspase-Glo® 1 assays were used to monitor cellular response to SiNPs. Together, SiNPs were identified to activate the intrinsic apoptosis pathway and lead to cell death.

  (5165)

Notes: These authors investigated the toxic effects of blue light on various developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster. The adverse effects of the specific wavelength were shown to be dependent on developmental stage. The ROS-Glo™ Assay was used to identify reactive oxygen species as a major contributor to toxicity. (5161)

Notes: Researchers evaluated the use of magnetic nanoparticles and electromagnetic devices as a drug delivery approach with a possibility to treat cardiovascular disease. The biological effect on the cardiac system was evaluated using cardiomyocytes and measuring changes in cell viability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation. (5029)

Notes: This study investigated the effect of the Bacillus thuringiensi toxins parasporin 3 on HepG2 cells. Understanding how Bt toxins target human cell lines has implications for the risk assessment of products containing these toxins, such as transgenic, insect-resistant plants. The authors used the CellTiter®-Blue, CellTiter®-Glo, Caspase-Glo® and ROS-Glo™ assays to assess viability, apoptosis induction, and oxidative stress in cultured cells exposed to the toxin. (5038)

Notes: The authors of this study sought to determine whether cucurbitacin B has antitumor activity against the ovarian cancer cell line A2870 and whether it can sensitize the cisplatin-resistant cell line A2780CP to treatment. They compared caspase activity in A2780CP cells either preincubated with cucurbitacin B before treatment with cisplatin or cells not pretreated using the Caspase-Glo® 3/7 Caspase Assay. Oxidized and total glutathione were measured from both cell lines (before and after cisplatin exposure, with and without preincubation with cucurbitacin B) using the GSH/GSSH-Glo™ Glo Assay. The level of reactive oxygen species in cell lines was also measured by detecting ROS converted to H₂O₂ using the ROS-Glo™ Assay. Cell Viabilty of 3D spheroids formed from the A2780CP cell line was assessed using the CellTiter-Glo® 3D Cell Viability Assay. (4581)

Notes: Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasmas (LTP) were examined for the mechanism of toxicity on cultured immortalized and primary prostate cancer cells. LTP induces an increase in H₂O₂ in the culture media as judged by the ROS-Glo™ H₂O₂ Assay leading to cell death as measured with the CellTox™ Green Cytotoxicity Assay. CellTox™ Green was quantified with a plate reader and verified by fluorescent microscopy. The cells experienced no caspase-3/7 activation as judged through use of the Caspase-Glo® 3/7 Assay, leading to the conclusion of necrotic cell death. (4711)

Notes: Primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were cultivated on semi-permeable membranes of cell culture inserts exposed directly to vapor from 200 puffs of two different e-cigarette liquids (0% and 2.4% nicotine). Twenty-four hours post exposure, two assays were multiplexed to assess oxidative stress (ROS-Glo™ H₂O₂ Assay) and cell viability (CellTiter-Blue® Cell Viability Assay). First, the cells were incubated with 200µl of medium + 50µl of H₂O₂ Substrate Solution for 3 hours and 75µl of the mixture transferred to a white 96-well plate. An equal volume of Detection Solution was added, incubated for 20 minutes at room temperature and luminescence detected. The exposed cells had the remaining medium + H₂O₂ Substrate Solution removed and replaced with 300µl of fresh medium + 60µl of CellTiter-Blue® Reagent. After a 2-hour incubation, 100µl of solution was transferred to a black 96-well plate and fluorescence measured at 544nm_Ex/590nm_Em. (4569)

Notes: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) were differentiated into neurons and treated with 20, 100 and 500μM of ketamine for 6 and 24 hours to examine the neurotoxic effects of ketamine. The ApoTox-Glo™ Triplex Assay was used to examine cell viability and caspase-3/7 activation in the ketamine-treated iPSC-derived neurons. Fluorescence (cell viability) and luminescence (caspase-3/7 assay) was detected using a GloMax® multimode instrument. To examine if reactive oxygen species levels changed when iPSC-derived neurons were exposed to ketamine, the authors used the ROS-Glo™ H₂O₂ Assay with cells that were ketamine treated with or without a ROS scavenger for 6 and 24 hours. Luminescence was detected using a GloMax® instrument. Caspase activity was confirmed with or without the ROS scavenger using the Caspase-Glo® 3/7 Reagent from the ApoTox-Glo™ Triplex Assay. The levels of ketamine-induced oxidative stress were assessed in iPSC-derived neurons using the NAD/NADH-Glo™ Assay, and cellular ATP levels determined using the Mitochondrial ToxGlo™ Assay. The luminescence from both assays were measured on a GloMax® detection instrument. (4570)