Term of Award

Summer 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science, Applied Physical Science

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

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Committee Chair

Worlanyo Eric Gato

Committee Member 1

James Carter

Committee Member 2

Ji Wu

Abstract

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a vital micronutrient recognized for its antioxidant capacity and essential bodily functions, such as collagen formation, neurotransmitter activity, and regulation of the immune system. This study explores how vitamin C can protect and potentially heal cells under oxidative stress and inflammation, using A549 cells, a human lung epithelial cell line, as the model system. The cells were exposed to varying concentrations of vitamin C dissolved in water, DMSO, and 5% DMSO. To assess the outcome, cell viability was measured with an MTT assay. In addition, the expression of key genes related to oxidative stress and inflammatory markers (e.g., DUOX1, GPX1, NCF2, SOD1, IL6, TNFα) was examined using quantitative real-time PCR. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and TNFα protein levels were further measured via colorimetric and ELISA assays. Results showed that higher concentrations of vitamin C improved cell viability and upregulated antioxidant genes, particularly GPX1 and SOD1, while downregulating pro-inflammatory markers including IL6, TNFα, and NF-κB. Notably, vitamin C mitigated the cytotoxic effects of DMSO, emphasizing its synergistic antioxidant activity. These research suggest that vitamin C confers cellular protection by enhancing antioxidant defenses and reducing inflammatory responses, highlighting its potential role as a therapeutic agent in respiratory health and oxidative stress-related conditions.

OCLC Number

1528852905

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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