Cell-based Antioxidant Protection against Apoptosis (CAP-a)
Severe oxidative stress can trigger cell death in various forms. Many natural products are capable of protecting healthy cells by combined effects on mitochondria, cellular signaling, and providing antioxidants that neutralize free radicals.
Within the circulating pool of normal healthy lymphocytes, some cells are short-lived. At the time of blood draw, a small proportion of the lymphocytes may be on a pathway to death. It is of interest to see if a natural product is able to extend the life of healthy cells in culture.
NIS Labs performs viability testing using freshly isolated white blood cells from healthy donors. Cells are cultured overnight in the absence versus presence of test products in serial dilutions, in the absence versus presence of oxidative stress. The cells are stained with a combination of two dyes that stain cells at different stages of apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Multi-parameter flow-cytometric analysis allows analysis of a product’s impact on cell viability.