Tributyrin inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To evaluate the effects of tributyrin, a pro-drug of natural butyrate and a neutral short-chain fatty acid triglyceride, on the growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell.METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were 24-72 h. MTT assay was applied to detect the cell proliferation.[3H]-TdR uptake was measured to determine DNA synthesis.Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and Hoechst-33258 staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect tributyrin-triggered apoptosis. The expressions of PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blot assay.RESULTS: Tributyrin could initiate growth inhibition of SGC7901 cell in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [3H]-TdR uptake by SGC-7901 cells was reduced to 33.6% after 48 h control (P＜0.05). Apoptotic morphology was detected by TUNEL assay. Flow cytometry revealed that tributyrin could induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in dose-dependent manner. After 48 hours incubation with tributyrin at 2 mmol.L-1, the level of Bcl-2 protein was lowered, and the level of Bax protein was increased in SGC-7901, accompanied by PARP cleavage.CONCLUSION: Tributyrin could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells effectively in vitro by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis, which was associated with the downregulated Bcl-2 expression and the up-regulated Bax expression. Therefore, tributyrin might be a promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Paclitaxel induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis in gastric cancer cells induced by paclitaxel, and the relation between this apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. METHODS: In in vitro experiments, MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate. Transmission electron microscope and TUNEL staining method were used to quantitatively and qualitively detect the apoptosis status of gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 before and after the paclitaxel treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and Bax. RESULTS: Paclitaxel inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Paclitaxel induced SGC-7901 cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation, nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. Paclitaxel could reduce the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2, and improve the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bax. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel is able to induce the apoptosis in gastric cancer. This apoptosis may be mediated by down-expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and up-expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bax.     

RRR-α-tocopheryl succinate inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To investigate the effects of growth inhibition ofhuman gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell with RRR-α-tocopherylsuccinate (VES), a derivative of natural Vitamin E, viainducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest.METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells wereregularly incubated in the presence of VES at 5, 10 and20mg@ L 1(VES was dissolved in absolute ethanol anddiluted in RPMI 1640 complete condition mediacorrespondingly to a final concentration of VES and 1mL@L-1 ethanol), succinic acid and ethanol equivalents asvehicle (VEH) control andcondition media only asuntreated (UT) control. Trypan blue dye exclusionanalysis and MTT assay were applied to detect the cellproliferation. 37kBq of tritiated thymidine was added tocells and [3H] TdR uptake was measured to observe DNAsynthesis. Apoptotic morphology was observed byelectron microscopy and DAPI staining. Flow cytometryand terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTPnick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detectVES-triggered apoptosis.RESULTS: VES inhibited SGC-7901 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. The growth curve showed suppressionby 24.7%, 49.2% and 68.7% following 24h of VEStreatment at 5, 10 and 20 mg@L 1, respectively, similar tothe findings from MTT assay. DNA synthesis wasevidently reduced by 35%, 45% and 98% after 24h VEStreatment at 20 mg@ L-1 and 48h at 10 and 20 mg@ L 1,respectively. VES induced SGC-7901 cells to undergoapoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics,including morphological changes of chromatincondensation, chromatin crescent formation/margination,nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation,typical apoptotic sub-G1 peak by flow cytometry andincrease of apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay in which 90%of cells underwent apoptosis after 48h of VES treatment at20 mcg@L-1.CONCLUSION: VES can inhibit human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesisarrest. Inhibition of SGC-7901 cell growth by VES is dose-and time-dependent. Therefore VES can function as apotent chemotherapeutic agent against human gastriccarcinogenesis.     

RRR—α—tocopheryl succinate inhibits human gastr cancer SGC—7901 cell growth by inducing apoptos and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To investigate the effects of growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell with RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (VES), a derivative of natural Vitamin E, via inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest. METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were regularly incubated in the presence of VES at 5, 10 and 20mg x L(-1) (VES was dissolved in absolute ethanol and diluted in RPMI 1640 complete condition media correspondingly to a final concentration of VES and 1 mL x L(-1) ethanol), succinic acid and ethanol equivalents as vehicle (VEH) control and condition media only as untreated (UT) control. Trypan blue dye exclusion analysis and MTT assay were applied to detect the cell proliferation. Cells were pulsed with 37kBq of tritiated thymidine and (3H) TdR uptake was measured to observe DNA synthesis. Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and DAPI staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect VES-triggered apoptosis.RESULTS: VES inhibited SGC-7901 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. The growth curve showed suppression by 24.7%, 49.2% and 68.7% following 24h of VES treatment at 5, 10 and 20 mg x L(-1), respectively, similar to the findings from MTT assay. DNA synthesis was evidently reduced by 35%, 45% and 98% after 24h VES treatment at 20mg x L(-1) and 48 h at 10 and 20mg x L(-1), respectively. VES induced SGC-7901 cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation/margination, nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation, typical apoptotic sub-G1 peak by flow cytometry and increase of apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay in which 90% of cells underwent apoptosis after 48 h of VES treatment at 20 mg x L(-1). CONCLUSION: VES can inhibit human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest. Inhibition of SGC-7901 cell growth by VES is dose- and time-dependent. Therefore VES can function as a potent chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Induction of apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cell line by 5, 7-dihydroxy-8-nitrochrysin in vitro

AIM： To investigate the effect of 5, 7-dihydroxy-8- nitrochrysin （NOChR） on apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cell line.
METHODS： SGC-7901 cells were cultured in vitro and the inhibitory effect of NOChR on proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was measured by using an Ml-r assay. NOChR-induced apoptosis rate of SGC-7901 cells was detected using flow cytometry （FCM） with PI staining. DNA ladder bands were observed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The influence of NOChR on the proxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ （PPARγ）, Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression of SGC-7901 cells was analyzed by Western blot.
RESULTS： MIF assay showed that NOChR markedly inhibited proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dose- dependent manner, and when ICso was 4.14 μmol/L, the potency of NOChR was 10 times than that of lead compound, chrysin （ChR, IC50 was 40.56 μmol/L）, and was similar to 5-fluorouracil （5-FU, IC50 was 4.51 μmol/L）. FCM with propidium iodide （PI） staining demonstrated that the apoptosis rates of SGC-7901 cells treated with 1.25, 5.00 and 20.00 μmol/L NOChR for 48 h were 9.8% 4- 0.2%, 36.8% 4- 1.9% and 45.5% 4- 3.5%, respectively, and were significantly higher when treated with 5.00 and 20.00 μmol/L NOChR than that with 20.00 μmol/L ChR （12.9% 4- 1.5%）. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis showed that treatment of SGC-7901 cells with 20.00 μmol/L NOChR for 48 h resulted in typical DNA ladder bands of DNA of SGC-7901 cells, which could be eliminated by treating with 10.00 μmol/L GW9662, a blocker of PPARy. Western blot analysis revealed that after 24 h of treatment with 20.00 μmol/L NOChR, PPARgamma and Bax protein expression of SGC-7901 cells increased but Bcl-2 expression decreased; however, pre-incubation with 10.00 μmol/L GW9662 could efficiently antagonize and weaken the regulatory effect of 20.00 μmol/L NOChR on Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression of SGC-7901 cells.
CONCLUSION： NOChR induces apoptosis of SGO7901 cell lines by activating PPARy and decreasing ra     

Apoptosis of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells induced by mitomycin combined with sulindac

AIM: To investigate the effects of mitomycin (MMC) combined with sulindac on cell viability, apoptotic induction and expression of apoptosis-related gene Bcl-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were divided into three treatment groups,namely sulindac treatment group, MMC treatment group and combined sulindac with MMC treatment group. After being treated with drugs, cell viability was examined by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rates. Morphology of the cells was observed under light microscope and interactive laser microscope. Expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 was determined by immunocytochemical method. RESULTS: After exposure for 12 h to three kinds of drugs, gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells presented some morphological features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Growth inhibition was more obvious in combined sulindac with MMC treatment group and sulindac treatment group than in MMC treatment group. The apoptotic rates in co-treated cells and MMC-treated cells 24 h after treatment were 12.0% and 7.2%, respectively. After exposure for 24 h to MMC, the expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 protein was up-regulated, COX-2 levels were down-regulated but Bcl-2 gene expression was not changed significantly in combined treatment group. CONCLUSION: MMC-induced apoptosis is reduced by up-regulating the expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 genes. MMC combined with sulindac can suppress the growth of gastric cancer cells through induction of apoptosis mediated by down-regulation of apoptosis-related Bcl-2 and COX-2 gene.     

Apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells induced by β-ionone

AIM:To investigate the effect of β-ionone on the growth and apoptosis of gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901.METHODS: Using M-IT, fluorescence dye (Hoechst-33258),transmission electron microscopy and the TUNEL assay,we examined growth and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone at various concentrations (i.e. 25, 50, 100 and 200μmol/L) for 24h,48h.RESULTS:The growth of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by β-ionone. Seven days after treatment with β-ionone at four concentrations, the inhibition rates were 12.04%, 30.59%,78.25% and 94.15%, respectively. The IC50 value of β-ionone for SGC-7901 cells was estimated to be 89μmol/L.The apoptotic morphology was demonstrated in SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone by Hoechst-33258 staining and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was also shown in β-iononetreated SGC-7901 cells by the TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION:β-ionone can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells.However, the mechanism needs to be further investigated.     

Induction of apoptosis by arsenic trioxide and hydroxy camptothecin in gastriccancer cells in vitro

AIM To study the effects of arsenic trioxide and HCPT on different degrees of differentiated gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901, MKN-45, MKN-28)with respect to both cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis in vitro. ~ODS The cytotoxicity of As2O3 and HCPT on gastric cancer cells was determined by MTTassay. Morphologic changes of apoptosis of gastric cancer cells were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis and cell cycle changes of gastric cancer cells induced by HCPT and As2O3 were investigated by TUNEL method and flow cytometry. RESULTS As2O3 and HCPT had remarkable cytotoxic effects on different degrees of differentiated gastric cancer cells. The IC50 of As2O3 on well differentiated gastric cancer cell MKN-28, moderately differentiated gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, and poorly differentiated gastric cancer cell MKN-28 were 8. 91 μmol/L, 10. 57 μmol/L, and 11.65 μmol/L, respectively. The IC50 of HCPT on MKN-28, SGC-7901, and MKN-45 were 9. 35 rg/L, 10. 21 rg/L, and 12. 63 mg/L respectively after 48 h treatment. After 12 h of exposure to both drugs, gastric cancer cells exhibited morphologic features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation,and formation of apoptotic bodies. A typical subdiploid peak before G0/G1 phase was observed by flow cytometry. The apoptotic rates of SGC7901, MKN-45, and MKN-28 were 13. 84%, 22.52%, and 9. 68%, respectively after 48 h exposure to 10 μmol/L As2O3. The apoptotic rates of SGC-7901, MKN-45, and MKN-28 were 21.88%, 12.35%, and 30. 26%, respectively after 48 h exposure to 10 mg/L HCPT. The apoptotic indice were 7% - 15% as assessed by TUNEL method. The effect of As2O3 on SGC-7901 showed remarkable cell cycle specificity, which induced cell death in G1 phase, and blocked G2/M phase. HCPT also showed a remarkable cell cycle specificity, by inducing cell death and apoptosis in G1 phase and arrest of proliferation at S phase. CONCLUSION AS2O3 and HCPT exhibit significant cytotoxicity on gastric cancer cells by induction of apoptosis. As2O3 and HCPT might have a promising prospect in the treatment of gastric cancer, which needs to be further studied.     

Molecule action mechanisms of NM-3 on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vivo or in vitro

AIM: To study the molecule action mechanisms of NM-3 on the growth of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vivo or in vitro. METHODS: SGC-7901 from human non-differentiated gastric cancer cell line was cultured with NM-3 at 100 mg/ml for 24 h. We observed its inhibitory rate and the density of micro-vascular growth in grafted mice with human gastric cancer SGC-7901. The apoptosis of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 was revealed in NM-3 treatment group by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-uridine triphosphate-fluorescene nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: The growth of SGC-7901 cells was markedly inhibited compared with control growp, which was smaller than that in normal saline control group (4.17 g+/-0.22 g vs 9.45 g+/-1.38 g, P<0.01). The level of apoptosis of human gastric cell line SGC-7901 was obviously increased in NM-3 treatment group at 1 mg.L(-1) for 24 h. NM-3 inducing apoptotic index in NM-3 plus carboplatin group was 3.5 times that of carboplatin control group (TUNEL: 27.98+/-6.12% vs 12.94+/-2.12%, FACScan: 26.86+/-5.69% vs 11.86+/-1.09%, P<0.01). Western blot analysis showed that the apoptotic index of human gastric cancer was elevated for 12, 24 and 36 h with an evident time-effect relationship in groups at 100 mg.L(-1). NM-3 enhanced the inhibitive effects and sensitivity of chemotherapy for human gastric cancer in nude mice. These results suggested that NM-3 played a key inhibitive role in the growth of grafted human gastric cancer in nude mice. CONCLUSION: NM-3 can inhibit the growth of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901, and enhance the sensitivity of carboplatin on SGC-7901 and induced its apoptosis.     

Effect of NF-κB, survivin, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 on apoptosis of gastric cancer cells induced by tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand

AIM: To study the effect of NF-κB, survivin, Bd-2 and Caspase3 on tumor necrosis factors related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: Gastric cancer cells of SGC-7901, MKN28, MKN45 and AGS lines were cultured in PRMI-1640 medium and the apoptosis rates of the cells of 4 lines were observed after treatment of tumor necrosis factors related apoptosis indudng ligand (TRAIL) with a flow cytometer. The expression of NF-κB, survivin, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 in gastric cancer cells of 4 lines was analyzed with Western blot. RESULTS: After the gastric cancer cells were exposed to TRAIL 300 ng/ml for 24 hours, the apoptosis rate was 36.05%, 20.27%, 16.50% and 11.80% in MKN28, MKN45,AGS and SC-C-7901cells respectively. Western blot revealed that the expressions of NF-EB and survivin were lower in MKN28 cells than in MKN45, AGS and SGC-7901 cells. In contrast, the expression of Caspase3 was higher in MKN28 cells than in MKN45, AGS and SGC-7901 cells. CONCLUSION: There is a selectivity of TRAIL potency to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells of different cell lines.The anticancer potency of TRAIL is associated with the decreased expression of NF-κB and survivin and increased expression of Caspase3 of gastric cancer cells.     

Inhibitory effect of human telomerase antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides on the growth of gastric cancer cell lines in variant tumor pathological subtype

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of specialized human telomerase antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides on the growth of well (MKN-28), moderately (SGC-7901) and poorly (MKN-45) differentiated gastric cancer cell lines under specific conditions and its inhibition mechanism, and to observe the correlation between the growth inhibition ratio and the tumor pathologic subtype of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: Telomerase activity in three gastric cancer cell lines of variant tumor pathologic subtype was determined by modified TRAP assay before and after the specialized human telomerase antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides were dealt with under specific conditions. Effect of antisense oligomer under specific conditions of the growth and viability of gastric cancer cell lines was explored by using trypan blue dye exclusion assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by cell morphology observation, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in well, moderately and poorly differentiated gastric cancer cell lines (the quantification expression of telomerase activity was 43.7TPG, 56.5TPG, 76.7TPG, respectively). Telomerase activity was controlled to 30.2TPG, 36.3TPG and 35.2TPG for MKN-28, SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cell lines respectively after treatment with human telomerase antisense oligomers at the concentration of 5 μmol/L, and was entirely inhibited at 10 μmol/L, against the template region of telomerase RNA component, whereas no inhibition effect was detected in missense oligomers (P<0.05). After treatment with antisense oligomers at different concentrations under specific conditions for 96 h, significant growth inhibition effects were found in MKN-45 and SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell lines (the inhibition ratio was 40.89% and 71.28%), but not in MKN-28 cell lines (15.86%). The ratio of inactive SGC-7901 cells increased according to the prolongation of treatment from 48 to 96 h. Missense oligomers could not lead to the same effect (P<0.05). Apoptosis of SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cells was detected not only by morphology and TUNEL assay but also by flow cytometry. The apoptotic rate reached 33.56% for SGC-7901 cells and 44.75% for MKN-45 cells. CONCLUSION: The viability and proliferation of gastric cancer cells can be inhibited by antisense telomerase oligomers. The growth inhibition of gastric cancer cells is correlated with concentration, time and sequence specialty of antisense oligomers. The inhibition mechanism of antisense human telomerase oligomers depends not only on the sequence specialty but also on the biological characteristics of gastric cancer cell lines.     

Effect of NF-κB, survivin, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 on apoptosis of gastric cancer cells induced by tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand

AIM: To study the effect of NF-κB, survivin, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 on tumor necrosis factors related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.METHODS: Gastric cancer cells of SGC-7901, MKN28,MKN45 and AGS lines were cultured in PRMI-1640 medium and the apoptosis rates of the cells of 4 lines were observed after treatment of tumor necrosis factors related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) with a flow cytometer. The expression of NF-κB, survivin, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 in gastric cancer cells of 4 lines was analyzed with Western blot.RESULTS: After the gastric cancer cells were exposed to TRAIL 300 ng/ml for 24 hours, the apoptosis rate was 36.05%, 20.27%, 16.50% and 11.80% in MKN28, MKN45,AGS and SGC-7901cells respectively. Western blot revealed that the expressions of NF-κB and survivin were lower in MKN28 cells than in MKN45, AGS and SGC-7901 cells. In contrast, the expression of Caspase3 was higher in MKN28 cells than in MKN45, AGS and SGC-7901 cells.CONCLUSION: There is a selectivity of TRAIL potency to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells of different cell lines.The anticancer potency of TRAIL is associated with the decreased expression of NF-κB and survivin and increased expression of Caspase3 of gastric cancer cells.     

Resveratrol induces apoptosis in human esophageal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells induced by resveratrol, and the relation between this apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. METHODS: In in vitro experiments, MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate. Transmission electron microscope and TUNEL staining method were used to quantitatively and qualitively detect the apoptosis status of esophageal cancer cell line EC-9706 before and after the resveratrol treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and Bax. RESULTS: Resveratrol inhibited the growth of esophageal cancer cell line EC-9706 in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Resveratrol induced EC-9706 cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation, nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. TUNEL assay showed that after the treatment of EC-9706 cells with resveratrol (10 mmol/L) for 24 to 96 hours, the AIs were apparently increased with treated time (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that after the treatment of EC-9706 cells with resveratrol (10 mmol/L) for 24 to 96 hours, the PRs of Bcl-2 proteins were apparently reduced with treated time (P<0.05) and the PRs of Bax proteins were apparently increased with treated time (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Resveratrol is able to induce the apoptosis in esophageal cancer. This apoptosis may be mediated by down-regulating the apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and up-regulating the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene bax.     

Roles of Fas signaling pathway in vitamin E succinateinduced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC—7901 cells

AIM: To investigate the roles of Fas signaling pathway in vitamin E succinate-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were treated with VES at 5, 10, 20 mg x L(-1), succinic acid and vitamin E as vehicle control and condition media only as untreated (UT) control. Apoptotic morphology was observed by DAPI staining. Western blot analysis was applied to measure the expression of Fas, FADD and caspase-8 proteins. After the cells were transiently transfected with Fas and FADD antisense oligonucleotides, respectively, caspase-8 activity was determined by flurometric method. RESULTS: The morphologically apoptotic changes were observed after VES treatment by DAPI staining. 23.7 % and 89.6 % apoptosis occurred after 24 h and 48 h of 20 mg x L(-1) VES treatment, respectively. The protein levels of Fas, FADD and caspase-8 were evidently increased in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h of VES treatment. The blockage of Fas by transfection with Fas antisense oligonucleotides obviously inhibited the expression of FADD protein. After SGC-7901 cells were transfected with Fas and FADD antisense oligonucleotides, caspase-8 activity was obviously decreased (P<0.01), whereas Fas blocked more than FADD. CONCLUSION: VES-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells involves Fas signaling pathway including the interaction of Fas, FADD and caspase-8.     

Lobaplatin inhibits growth of gastric cancer cells by inducing apoptosis

AIM: To assess the anti-cancer effect of lobaplatin on human gastric cancer cells, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS: The human gastric cancer cell lines MKN-28, AGS and MKN-45 were used. The cytotoxicity of lobaplatin was detected using an MTS cell proliferation assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis using Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. The expression of apoptosis-regulated genes was examined at the protein level using Western blot.RESULTS: Lobaplatin inhibited the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells and induced apoptosis, which may be associated with the up-regulation of Bax expression, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, p53 expression and the reduction of Bcl-2 expression.CONCLUSION: The cytotoxicity of lobaplatin may be due to its ability of inducing apoptosis of gastric cancer cells, which would support the potential use of lobaplatin for the therapy of gastric cancer.     

Apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells induced by β-ionone

AIM: To investigate the effect of β-ionone on the growthMETHODS: Using MTT, fluorescence dye (Hoechst-33258),transmission electron microscopy and the TUNEL assay, we examined growth and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone at various concentrations (i.e. 25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) for 24 h, 48 h.RESULTS: The growth of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by β-ionone, Seven days after treatment with β-ionone at four concentrations, the inhibition rates were 12.04%, 30.59%,78.25% and 94.15%, respectively. The IC50 value of β-ionone for SGC-7901 cells was estimated to be 89 μmol/L. The apoptotic morphology was demonstrated in SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone by Hoechst-33258 staining and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was also shown in β-iononetreated SGC-7901 cells by the TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION: β-ionone can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. However, the mechanism needs to be further investigated.     

Anti-gastric cancer active immunity induced by FasL／B7-1 gene-modified tumor cells

AIM:To study the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against gastric cancer cells induced by FasL/B7-1 (FB-11) gene-modified tumor cells,and to explore whether co-expression of FasL and B7-1 in SGC-7901 tumor cells could initiate synergistic antitumor effect. METHODS: FasL and B7-1 genes were transfected into human SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells with adenovirus vectors. The positive clones were selected by G418. FasL and B7-1 genes were detected by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Abdominal infiltrating lymphocytes and sensitized spleen cells were obtained from mice that were immunized with SGC-7901/FB-11 or wild type SGC-7901 cells intraperitoneally,and cytotoxicity of these CTLs against tumor cells was determined by MTT assay. RESULTS: Flow cytometry and RT-PCR showed that FasL and B7-1 genes were highly expressed. FasL and B7-1 transfected cancer cells had a high apoptosis index. DNA laddering suggested that FasL and B7-1 genes induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis. FasL+/B7-1+SGC-7901 cells (SGC-7901/FB-11) were inoculated subcutaneously in the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice and then decreased their tumorigenicity greatly (z=2.15-46.10, P<0.01).SGC-7901/FB-11 cell-sensitized mice obtained protective immune activity against the rechallenge of wild type SGC-7901 cells (z=2.06-44.30, P<0.05). The cytotoxicity of CTLs induced by SGC-7901/FB-11 cells against SGC-7901 was significantly higher than that of CTLs activated by wild-type SGC-7901 cells (84.1±2.4% vs30.5±2.3%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FasL and B7-1 genes can effectively promote the activity of CTLs against gastric cancer cells. FasL/B7-1 molecules play an important role in CTL cytotoxicity.     

Heat shock protein 70 antisense oligonucleotide inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901

AIM: Heat shock protein (HSP)70 is over-expressed in human gastric cancer and plays an important role in the progression of this cancer. We investigated the effects of antisense HSP70 oligomer on human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901, and its potential role in gene therapy for this cancer. METHODS: Human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was treated in vitro with various concentrations of antisense HSP70 oligonucleotides at different intervals. Growth inhibition was determined as percentage by trypan blue dye exclusion test. Extracted DNA was electrophoresed on agarose gel, and distribution of cell cycle and kinetics of apoptosis induction were analyzed by propidium iodide DNA incorporation using flow cytometry, which was also used to detect the effects of antisense oligomer pretreatment on the subsequent apoptosis induced by heat shock in SGC-7901 cells. Proteins were extracted for simultaneous measurement of HSP70 expression level by SDS-PAGE Western blotting. RESULTS: The number of viable cells decreased in a dose-and time-dependent manner, and ladder-like patterns of DNA fragments were observed in SGC-7901 cells treated with antisense HSP70 oligomers at a concentration of 10μmol/L for 48 h or 8μmol/L for 72 h, which were consistent with inter-nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric analysis showed a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptotic rate by HSP70 antisense oligomers. This response was accompanied with a decrease in the percentage of cells in the G_1 and S phases of the cell cycle, suggesting inhibition of cell proliferation. In addition, flow cytometry also showed that pretreatment of SGC-7901 cells with HSP70 antisense oligomers enhanced the subsequent apoptosis induced by heat shock treatment. Western blotting demonstrated that HSP70 antisense oligomers inhibited HSP70 expression, which preceded apoptosis, and HSP70 was undetectable at the concentration of 10 μmol/L for 48 h or 8 μmol/L for 72 h. CONCLUSION: Antisense HSP70 oligomers can abrogate HSP70 expression in SGC-7901 cells, which may in turn induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation, conversely suggesting that HSP70 is required for the proliferation and survival of human gastric cancer cells under normal conditions.