Redifferentiation of human gastric cancer cells induced by ascorbic acid and sodium selenite.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects and mechanisms of ascorbic acid (AA) and sodium selenite (SS) on growth inhibition and redifferentiation in human gastric cancer cells.


METHODS
In the present study, trypan blue dye exclusion method was used to determine the cell growth curve and mitotic index, cell electrophoresis and colonogenic potential were used as the indexes of redifferentiation. In order to find out the mechanisms of redifferentiation, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) were assayed, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and H2O2 were evaluated.


RESULTS
After treatment with AA 3 mol/L + SS 2 mu mol/L, the growth rate and mitotic index of human gastric cancer cells (MGc-803) decreased remarkably. The indexes related with cell malignancy were alleviated. For example, cell surface charge was obviously decreased, the electrophoresis rate was dropped from 2.21 to 1.15 mu m.s-1.V-1.cm-1. The indexes related with cell redifferentiation were promoted. For example, the colonogenic potential was decreased to 93.5%. These results indicated that redifferentiation of human gastric cancer cells was successfully induced by AA + SS. The activities of SOD and GPX were significantly higher, while the activity of CAT was slower in treated group than that in the control. The content of MDA was slightly decreased, GSH was sharply decreased, and H2O2 content was dramatically increased.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that combination of ascorbic acid and sodium selenite may induce the redifferentiation of human gastric cancer cells and inhibit cell growth by virtue of enhancing the activities of antioxidative enzymes and inducing the formation of H2O2, and altering the cell redox status. Combination of ascorbic acid and sodium selenite may be a potent anticancer agent for human gastric cancer.
Zheng
Qiu-Sheng
QS
Department of Biochemistry, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, Shandong, China. johnsonjem@hotmail.com
Sun
Xi-Ling
XL
Wang
Chang-Hai
CH
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008940:Mitotic Index; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D001205:Ascorbic Acid