The death way and its mechanisms of pancreatic cancer PANC1 cells induced by pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations / 中华胰腺病杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the biological effects and its mechanisms of ascorbic acid on pancreatic cancer PANC1 cells. Methods PANC1 cells were treated by ascorbic acid of different concentrations (0 ～40 mmol/L) for 24,48,72 hours.The proliferation of PANC1 cells was analyzed by MTT method; cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM); inverted microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe cell morphology. The membrane potential of mitochondria were mearured by with JC-1 staining and FCM.Meanwhile,the changes of cell morphology and mitochondrial membrane potential induced by ascorbic acid after pretreatment with hydrogen peroxidescavenging enzyme (catalase) and red blood cells were also detected. Results Ascorbic acid in pharmacologic concentrations selectively inhibited the proliferation of PANC1 cells in a dose and time dependent manner.PANC1 cells were arrested in G2/M phase after treatment with 5 mmol/L ascorbic acid [ (32.55 ± 7.14)％ vs (22.00 ±1.27)％,t =5.808,P＜0.05],but there was no changes on apoptosis rate [ (1.98 ± 1.80)％ vs (1.09 ±0.16)％ ].Inverted microscope and transmission electron microscopy showed that oncosislike cell death of PANC1 cells was induced after treatment with ≥5 mmol/L ascorbic acid.Mitochondrial membrane potential of PANC1 cells was significantly lower than that of the control group in a dose dependent manner.The descent of mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with catalase and red blood cells,and the degree of cell oncosis was attenuated.ConclusionsAscorbic acid significantly inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer PANC1 cells in vitro.Ascorbic acid induced PANC1 cell oncosis,but not apoptosis.The possible mechanisms of inducing oncosis may be related to the descent of mitochondrial membrane potential.