ISSN: 0970-938X (Print) | 0976-1683 (Electronic)

Biomedical Research

An International Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Research on the mechanisms of zerumbone in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of zerumbone in proliferation and inducing effect on apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109.

Methods: Eca-109 cell lines were divided into two zerumbone treatment groups (10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L) and one blank control group (0 μmol/L). Thereafter, MTT assay was performed to observe the inhibitory effect of zerumbone on the in-vitro growth of Eca-109 cells; flow cytometry was performed for detecting the distribution of cell cycles; inverted phase contrast microscope was used to observe the morphology of Eca-109 cells; RT-PCR and Western blotting assay were carried out for detecting the changes in mRNA and protein expressions of CXCR4.

Results: Zerumbone had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of Eca-109 cells, and the inhibitory effect was continuously elevated with an increase in concentration (p<0.05). Besides, zerumbone could induce the apoptosis of Eca-109 cells, and the apoptotic rate was increased in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). After 48 h and 72 h of treatment with zerumbone in different concentrations, we found that the incidence of poor adhesive growth and cell death was increased against the augmentation in concentration of zerumbone; with the time extension, the quantity of Eca-109 cells would be decreased gradually after treatment with zerumbone in a certain concentration. The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting assay also showed that compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of CXCR4 in 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L groups were significantly decreased (p<0.05), in which the decrease in 20 μmol/L group was more significant.

Conclusion: Zerumbone can inhibit the growth of Eca-109 cells with a promoting effect on apoptosis, and the mechanism might be correlated with the downregulation of CXCR4.

Author(s): Changjiang Lei, Manli Yan, Bin Wang, Hong Ren, Yuan Li, Qingyun Pan
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