Growth-suppressing effects of sodium butyrate on human ovarian carcinoma KK cells and endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose:To study the growth suppressing effect of sodium butyrate(NaB) on human ovarian carcinoma KK cells and endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells and its mechanism, as well as its potential as a new antitumor agent. Methods:Human endometrial carcinoma cell line HHUA and ovarian carcinoma cell line KK were cultured in vitro and exposed to sodium butyrate. The changes of morphology and chromatin induced by NaB were investigated by means of HE staining and DNA fluorescent staining, respectively. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were quantified by using flow cytometric analysis. Apoptotic degradation of DNA was analyzed by extracting DNA and separated by electrophoresis through a 2% agarose gel. Western blotting analysis was carried out to determine the expression of PARP, Fas, Bax and Bcl 2 proteins.Results:NaB arrested HHUA and KK cells at G 1 phase at the low concentration (≤2 mol/L), after 24 hours treatment. The percentage of G 1 phase was up to 70%. While at the medium concentration (4 mol/L and 10 mol/L), both HHUA and KK cells manifested typical apoptotic morphological and chromatic features. High concentration (≥10 mol/L) caused cell necrosis. NaB could upregulate Fas protein expression in HHUA, whereas the levels of Bcl 2 and Bax proteins remained unchanged. Conclusions:NaB may suppress the growth of HHUA and KK cells through arrest of cell cycle and induction of apoptosis. The responses of cells to NaB vary at the different concentrations. NaB induces cell cycle arrest at low concentration and induces apoptosis at medium concentration. The inhibition of NaB on cell growth is in a time and dose dependent manner. Upregulation of Fas protein may be the mechanism of apoptosis induction in HHUA cells. The effects of NaB on HHUA and KK cell growth suggest that NaB may be a new therapeutic agent in cancer treatment.