RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 High Concentration of Iopromide Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells via Activating a ROS-dependent Cellular Stress Pathway JF In Vivo JO In Vivo FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 3221 OP 3232 DO 10.21873/invivo.12617 VO 35 IS 6 A1 YUH-FENG TSAI A1 JAI-SING YANG A1 FUU-JEN TSAI A1 YIH-DIH CHENG A1 YU-JEN CHIU A1 SHIH-CHANG TSAI YR 2021 UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/6/3221.abstract AB Background/Aim: The use of iodinated contrast media may impair renal function. However, no report has addressed the nephrotoxicity of high doses of iodinated contrast media in normal kidney cells and its associated molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay. Cell death was evaluated through examining the morphological changes and TUNEL assay. Autophagy was detected through acridine orange staining and lysotracker staining. Reactive oxygen species production and AKT kinase activity were examined. Results: Iopromide induced cell death and triggered apoptosis and autophagy in HEK 293 cells. Cell viability was significantly restored in the presence of a pan-caspase inhibitor or a ROS scavenger, N-acetyl-L-cysteine. AKT kinase activity was found to be reduced in iopromide-treated HEK 293 cells. Conclusion: High concentrations of iopromide induce cell damage, apoptosis, and autophagy through down-regulating AKT and ROS-activated cellular stress pathways in HEK 293 cells.