The study of artemether on the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 in HaCaT cells exposure to UVB

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of artemether in treating photodermatoses through observing the effects of artemether on Fas and Bcl-2 expression in the HaCaT cells exposed to UVB. Methods: Cultured HaCaT cells were irradiated with 45.00 mJ/cm 2 of UVB, after pretreatment with hydroxychloroquine or different concentrations of artemether. The cell growth and the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 protein of HaCaT cells were detected by MTT method and immunohistochemistry. Results: 1 Compared with those not exposed to UVB, an increased Fas expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression of HaCaT cells exposed to UVB were seen. 2 The change of HaCaT cell activity was related to the concentration of artemether: no obvious change was seen when treated with low concentration (≤50 mg/mL) of artemether and hydroxychloroquine; a significant increase was seen when concentration of artemether was higher than 100 μg/ml; However, a large number of cells suspended on supernate while oncentrations of artemether wereover 200 μg/mL. 3 Treated with hydroxychloroquine or different concentrations of artemether, the increased Fas expression of HaCaT cells exposed to UVB was dowregulated; in contrast, the decreased Bcl-2 expression was upregulated. Conclusions: Certain concentrations (25 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, 100 μg/ mL) of artemether could regulate Fas and Bcl-2 expression of HaCaT cells exposed to UVB, which might be helpful in preventing UVB-induced keratinocyte apoptosis.