[Clotrimazole induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cell line CCL229].
OBJECTIVE
It was reported that clotrimazole could inhibit the growth of tumor cell by exhausting cellular calcium. This study was designed to investigate whether clotrimazole(CLT) can induce apoptosis invitro in human colon cancer cell line CCL229.


METHODS
The fluorescent microscope, electron microscopes, flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) were applied to detect the morphological changes, cells cycle distribution, and DNA fragmentation.


RESULTS
Apoptosis can be induced in colon cancer cell CCL229 by CLT at the concentration of 25-35 mumol/L in a dose and time dependent manner. Typical morphological changes of apoptosis such as apoptic body were found under fluorescent microscope and electron microscopes. DNA histograms showed the hypodiploid peak, the ratio of hypodiploid cells was increased with the increase of dose and elongation of time. The ration of cells in G1 phase decrease accordingly. Brown-colored positive apoptotic cells were observed with TUNEL method.


CONCLUSIONS
CLT can induce apoptosis in vitro in human colon cancer cell line CCL 229. The apoptosis inducing effect may be G1 phase-specific.
Zhao
Xin
X
Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health of China, China Medical Unviersity, Shenyang 110001, P. R. China.
Song
Jin-dan
JD
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D003022:Clotrimazole