Effect of intracellular-free calcium changes on the process of pancreatic cancer cell line apoptosis induced by As_2O_3 / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the effect of intracellular free calcium and the expression of Fas and Fas L on the process of pancreatic carcinoma cell apoptosis. Methods: Apoptosis induced by 2 ?mol/L arsenic trioxide in pancreatic cancer cell lines SW 1990 was investigated.Concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i) was determined by Fura 2a fluorescein load technique. Fas and FasL were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Pancreatic cancer cells treated with 2 ?mol/L arsenic trioxide presented apoptotic features intact cell membrane, chromatin condensation, nucleic fragmentation and apoptotic body formation; agarose electrophoresis showed marked ladder; flow cytometery analysis showed a sub G 1 cell peak. In the process of pancreatic carcinoma cell apoptosis Fas and FasL and the [Ca 2+ ]i were significantly higher than that in the control. Conclusion: The pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis induced by arsenic trioxide is related to Fas and FasL expression by the cancer cells and the [Ca 2+ ]i increase in the cancer cells.