Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

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Effects of acid sphingomyelinase on endoplasmic reticulum stress in VES- induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells

DONG Rui-hua1ZHAO Wei2,WANG Li-ming2,ZHANG Xu-guang1,WU Kun1,*   

  1. (1. Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081; 2. The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China)
  • Received:2013-03-06 Revised:2013-05-27 Online:2013-09-30 Published:2013-09-30
  • Contact: WU Kun,E-mail:wukun_15000@163.com

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in vitamin E succinate (VES)-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells. METHODS SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells were cultured in vitro. The cells were divided into four groups: desipramine (DES) group (cells were treated at 12.5 μmol/L for 2 h),control group (containing 2% FBS RPMI-1640 culture medium),VES+ DES group (cells were treated with DES at 12.5 μmol/L for 2 h,then with VES at 20 μg/ml) and VES group (20 μg/ml). ASMase activity detection kit was used to assess the ASMase activity of VES and VES + DES groups at 0,1.5,3 and 6 h. MTT assay was used to measure the growth inhibition at 12,24,48 h. Cell morphology was examined by the inverted microscope after treated for 24 h,and flow cytometry was used to evaluate the apoptosis,then we measured the ERS-related protein expressions of GRP78,GRP94,Perk,p-Perk,Chopand Caspase-4 by Western blot. RESULTS: ASMase activity continuously increased for VES (20 μg/mL) treatment,peaked at 3 h,then gradually decreased. ASMase activity of VES+DES group remained at a low level. There was no significant change in control group and DES group throughout the tests. Cell proliferation in VES group and VES+DES group was obviously inhibited after treatment for 12,24 and 48 h (all P<0.05) and showed a time-effect trend. Cell relative growth rates at different time points in VES+DES group were significantly higher than those in VES group(all P<0.05). The number of dead cells obviously increased in VES group,and the number of dead cells in VES+DES group decreased compared with VES group. Apoptosis rate evaluated by flow cytometry revealed that VES group (39.21%±1.90%) was significantly higher than the control group(3.91%±1.68%) and the DES group(4.07%±1.39%)(P<0.05),VES+DES group (19.47%±4.46%) was significantly lower than the VES group(P<0.05). ERS-related protein GRP78,GRP94,p-Perk,Chop and c-Caspase-4 expression levels in VES+DES group were lower than those in VES group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION:VES may induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell SGC-7901 cells though ERS by ASMase regulation pathways.

Key words: acid sphingomyelinase, vitamin E succinate, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis