Copper Uptake in Mammary Epithelial Cells Activates Cyclins and Triggers Antioxidant Response

Figure 5

Cu-treated MCF10A cells produced less reactive oxygen species (ROS) than their untreated counterparts. The generation of intracellular ROS, cells that had been exposed to Cu(II), was estimated using the membrane-permeable nonfluorescent cell probe DCFH. (a) Graph representing typical distribution of number of cells according to DCF levels, in both controls and treated cells elicited by 50 μM CuSO₄ at specific time points, as determined by flow cytometry. (b) When compared to controls, treated cells showed reduced DCF levels after 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. Significant differences between untreated and Cu-treated cells are indicated by asterisk ().

(a)

(b)