Flow cytometry with annexin V FITC/PI double staining in detection of the curcumin-induced apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells

Objective To evaluate the application of flow cytometry with annexin V FITC / PI double staining for detecting the curcumin-induced apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells(HSC).Methods The HSC line T6 was incubated with curcumin at different concentrations for 24 hours.Apoptosis of the cells was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V FITC / PI double staining.Results The percentage of the apoptotic cells increased after the treatment with 10 μmol/L of curcumin and that of the necrotic cells elevated under the condition of 30 μmol/L.The apoptotic rate was(3.81 ± 0.64)% in the group with 0 μmol / L,(6.52 ± 1.88)% in the group with 10 μmol / L,(11.61 ± 2.79)% in the group with 20 μmol / L,(52.03 ± 4.38)% in the group with 30μmol / L,and(87.11 ± 12.62)% in the group with 40μmol / L,and it was significantly higher in the latter three groups than in the group with 0 μmol / L(P 0.05).Conclusion Flow cytometry with annexin V FITC / PI double staining is a quantitative method for determinating the early apoptosis of HSC induced by curcumin.