Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis in uveal melanoma cells through the mitochondrial pathway.

Uveal melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, is highly resistant to most chemotherapeutic drugs. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is known to inhibit ocular melanoma cell growth. However, the effects of ATO on human uveal melanoma cells are poorly understood. Therefore, this study evaluated the mechanisms of ATO and its inhibiting effects on a human uveal melanoma cell line (SP6.5). An MTT assay indicated that, compared to human fibroblasts, ATO had a stronger inhibiting effect on SP6.5 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptosis ratio in SP6.5 cells, which was indicated by cell DNA fragmentation, was 4.1- to 7.7-fold higher after ATO-treatment. The ATO treatment substantially increased the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, but not of caspase-8. These findings were consistent with the protein expression observed by Western blots. ATO also significantly enhanced expression of Bax and cytochrome c proteins but suppressed those of Bcl-2. Therefore, ATO-induced apoptosis in uveal melanoma cells occurs mainly through the mitochondrial pathway rather than through the death receptor pathway. This report is the first to evaluate the complete mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway of ATO in uveal melanoma cells. These results can be used to improve the clinical effectiveness of ATO treatment for uveal melanoma.

Increased expression of gelatinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in pterygia and pterygium fibroblasts with disease progression and activation of protein kinase C.

PURPOSE: To study the expression of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and activities in various stages of surgically excised pterygium specimens and cultured pterygium fibroblasts and to study the effects of activation of protein kinase C (PKC) on the expression of these MMPs in pterygium fibroblasts. METHODS: MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression and activities in 15 pterygium tissues and cultured pterygium fibroblasts were measured by RT-PCR and zymography. Five normal conjunctiva specimens and fibroblasts were tested as the controls. Changes of expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of fibroblasts after the simulation of a standard PKC activator, 2-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), were studied. RESULTS: MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in pterygium tissues and fibroblasts was greater than those of normal tissues and fibroblasts and was closely relevant to the progression of pterygium. In early-stage pterygium tissues and cultured fibroblasts, MMP-9 was not expressed, activated MMP-2 could not be detected, and only a small amount of latent MMP-2 was present. In advanced-stage pterygium (pterygium head passed the papillary region), MMP-9 was expressed; activated MMP-2 and a large amount of latent MMP-2 could be detected in pterygium tissues and fibroblasts. TPA stimulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by pterygium fibroblasts isolated from early-stage specimens in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression by pterygium fibroblasts is significantly increased after the progression of pterygium. Activation of the PKC signaling pathway, aside from other previously reported signaling pathways, may play a role in the development and progression of pterygium.