Effects of sodium butyrate on proliferation and differentiation of human pancreatic cancer cell line ASPC-1 / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of sodium butyrate(NaBT) on proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell line ASPC-1 and explore the possible mechanism. Methods The methylthiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT) method was used to detect cell proliferation and draw a curve. The cell apoptosis and cell cycle were determined with flow cytometry. Western blot was used to study the effect NaBT on the pancreatic cancer cells and explore its mechansim. Real-time PCR was employed to assess the expression levels of p53, p21, bcl-2 and cell cycle regulation gene p21. Results After incubation with different concentrations of NaBT for 24 to 72 h, ASPC-1 cell proliferation was inhibited dramatically. NaBT induced an increase of G0/G1 phase cells and a significant decrease in the ratio of S phase cells. The expression of p21 and bax was up-regulated at protein and mRNA level. The expression of bcl-2 was down-regulated at protein and mRNA level. There was no significant difference in the expression of p53 at protein and mRNA level. Conclusion TSA-induced growth inhibition is associated with a block in the G0/G1 phase and apoptosis, which may occur through down-regulating the expression of apoptosis gene bcl-2 and up-regulating the expression of cell cycle regulation gene p21and pro-apoptotic gene bax.