Objective To compare the antioxidant ability of cervical squamous carcinoma（Siha, SW756） and adenocarcinoma （Hela, GH329）cells and investigate the related mechanism. Methods ① Cervical squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cells were treated with H2O2, and proliferation of the cells was observed with the MTT assay. ② Cervical squamous carcinoma（Siha， SW756） and adenocarcinoma （Hela， GH329）cells were treated with 250, 250, 650 and 800μmol/L of H2O2， and ROS, GSH and GSSG levels and SOD, CAT and GPx activities were determined with different methods. Results Without treatment with H2O2, cervical squamous carcinoma（Siha， SW756） cells had lower ROS and GSH levels and GSH/GSSG ratio, and a higher GSSG level and SOD and GPx activities than those in adenocarcinoma（Hela, GH329）cells. Under oxidative stress, the GSH level and GSH/GSSG ratio were significantly decreased, and SOD, CAT and GPx activities increased in cervical squamous carcinoma（Siha, SW756） cells, while the GSH level and GSH/GSSG ratio were slightly decreased and SOD, CAT and GPx activities increased in cervical adenocarcinoma （Hela, GH329）cell. Conclusion The redox states in cervical squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cells are different. The antioxidant ability of cervical squamous carcinoma cells is inferior to that of cervical adenocarcinoma cells, which may be related to the more significantly increased level of ROS in cervical squamous carcinoma cells than in adenocarcinoma cells, and different responses of the antioxidant system in the two kinds of cells.
