Protective effect of astragalus polysaccharide on mitochondria and lysosome in H2O2-stressed skin fibroblasts

AIM: To verify the protection of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on H2O2-stressed skin fibroblasts. METHODS: A model of acute H2O2 stress in primary skin fibroblast was used at concentration of 0.5 mmol/L by 30 min incubation. Dose responses of APS on cell survival was measured by MTT, cell death was evaluated by DAPI, and effect of APS on mitochondria, mitochondrial membrane potential and lysosome stabilization were measured by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: APS improved cell survival in a dose-dependent manner, starting at 0.5 mg/L and with a maximum at 1 mg/L. Moreover, APS inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, protected mitochondrial morphology and stablized lysosomal membrane. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the existence, at the mitochondria-lysosome level, of a new pathway of apoptotic regulation by APS. This might constitute a new therapeutic target where oxidative stress and lysosomal impairment are involved.