Figure 4.

Expression of apoptosis-related genes induced by the generation of oxidative stress under conditions of increasing oxygen concentrations with or without vitamin C. Using RT-qPCR, a significantly decreased expression of TP53 mRNA was observed (A) in the samples treated with vitamin C, compared to an increased expression of BCL2 mRNA (C). Vitamin C decreased the ratio of BAX/BCL2 mRNA (D). ACTB mRNA was used to normalize the gene expression. The results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. * indicates P < .05, between the samples cultured with and without vitamin C; RT-qPCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; mRNA, messenger RNA; SEM, standard error of the mean.