Regulatory effects of dihydroartemisinin on Bcl-2 and Bax expression in implanted prostate cancer in nude mice / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate dihydroartemisinin(DHA)-induced apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: Nude mice were implanted with human prostate cancer PC-3 cells to establish tumor-bearing mouse model. Twenty models mice were evenly randomized into four groups control group, solvent group (DMSO), large dose DHA (200 μ/kg) group and low dose DHA (100 μ/kg) group. The implanted tumors were observed on day 13 after drug administration. Morphological changes of PC-3 cells were observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM). The protein expression of apoptosis associated gene Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by immunohistochemical method. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. Results: TEM examination revealed scattered apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies in tumor tissues of mice in the DHA groups; immunohistochemical examination revealed that the protein expression of apoptosis-associated gene Bcl-2 was decreased and that of Bax was increased in DHA groups (P < 0. 05). TUNEL staining revealed that the rate of cell apoptosis increased significantly in DHA groups(P < 0. 05). Conclusion: It is demonstrated that DHA has strong effect in inducing apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in vivo, which might be related to the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax.