Fig. 5
Effects of treatment with melatonin or NAC on NaIO3-induced ROS production in ARPE-19 cells. A ARPE-19 cells were cotreated with melatonin and NaIO3 for 24 h. Flow cytometry data were obtained using a DCFH-DA dye. B, C The cell proliferation rate was determined by MTT assay and colony formation assay. D, E ARPE-19 cells were cotreated with the ROS inhibitor NAC and melatonin and NaIO3. Cells were then collected, and the apoptosis rate and MMP levels were measured by flow cytometry. F Western blotting was performed to determine the effect of NAC treatment (β-actin was used as the internal control). All of the data are presented as the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. **P < 0.01 compared with the control group, # P < 0.05 compared with the NaIO3 treatment group, and ## P < 0.05 compared with the NaIO3 + melatonin treatment group. MMPs: (upper left): percentage of dead cells with intact mitochondrial membranes; (lower left): percentage of live cells with depolarized mitochondrial membranes