Antagonistic effects of N-acetylcysteine on lead-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in chicken embryo fibroblast cells

Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that can have harmful effects on the environment, which has severe cytotoxicity in many animal tissues. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has antioxidant activity, reducing lead-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis, but its role in chicken cells is unknown. The current study explored the antagonistic effect of NAC on lead-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF). In this study, CEF was used as a model to measure the cytotoxic effects of lead nitrate at different concentrations, demonstrating a dose-dependent effect on CEF activity. Employing inverted microscopy, the investigation of morphological alterations in CEF cells was conducted. Fluorescence staining methodology enabled the assessment of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels within CEF cells. Moreover, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to detect the presence of oxidative damage indicators encompassing superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) within CEF cells. Furthermore, the determination of the apoptosis rate of CEF cells was accomplished through the utilization of the Hoechst 33258 staining method in combination with the Annexin V-FITC dual staining method. By using RT-qPCR for detection, lead treatment increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes, caspase-3, and caspase-9, and reduced expression of anti-apoptotic genes, Bcl-2, and BI-1. Reduced antioxidant capacity was shown by increased ROS and MDA levels in CEF cells after lead treatment. The results showed that NAC inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in lead-treated CEF cells, while NAC had a certain inhibitory effect on the relative expression of Bcl-2 and BI-1 mRNA in lead-induced CEF cells. NAC significantly reduced lead-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis. Overall, our results demonstrate a novel protective effect of NAC against lead-induced injury in chicken cells, providing a theoretical basis for future investigations of drugs that are effective in preventing lead poisoning in animals.