Effect of inotodiol on cell proliferation and apoptosis of human ovary cancer cell line SKOV3 and its molecular mechanism / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of inotodiol in inducing apoptosis of human ovary cancer cell line SKOV3, and its influence on the related apoptosis proteins such as Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3. METHODS: Human ovary cancer SKOV3 cells were cultured in vitro. Cytotoxcity of inotodiol was determined by MTT assay. Morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM). Apoptotic rates of SKOV3 cells were confirmed by TUNEL(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) assay. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 were detected by immunocytochemical staining method. RESULTS: Inotodiol can inhibit the SKOV3 cells growth in a time-and dose-dependent manner. After treatment with inotodiol, SKOV3 cells showed typical apoptotic features under TEM. After human ovary cancer cell line SKOV3 were treated with inotodiol in concentration of 50 mg·L-1 for 24 and 48 h, their apoptotic rates were(21.91 ± 2.84)% and(43.83 ± 3.22)%, respectively. The apoptotic rate of SKOV3 cells induced by inotodiol increased in a time-dependent manner(P < 0.05). Immunocytochemical staining showed that the expression of Bcl-2 decreased obviously, whereas those of Bax and caspase-3 increased significantly in inotodiol group, compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Inotodiol can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human ovary cancer cell line SKOV3 through up-regulation of Bax protein, down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein and activation of caspase apoptosis signal.