[Effects of all-trans-retinoic acid, acitretin and tazarotene on apoptosis and Bax/Bcl-2 expressions of human melanoma cells A375 and the significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), acitretin and tazarotene on apoptosis and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expressions of human melanoma A375 cells.


METHODS
The effects of retinoids on apoptosis and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expressions of A375 cells in vitro were examined. Apoptosis analysis with double staining with annexin V-FITC and PI was performed using flow cytometer. SABC immunocytochemistry was employed for detection of Bax/Bcl-2 protein expressions.


RESULTS
At the concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L, ATRA, acitretin and tazarotene all induced apoptosis of A375 cells with apoptosis ratio of 5.03% (P<0.05), 13.42% (P<0.05) and 2.88% (P>0.05), respectively, and acitretin induced more significant apoptosis than the other two agents (P<0.05). In addition, all the three agents significantly increased the number of cells positive for Bax expression and decreased the number of cells expressing Bcl-2 (P<0.05), among which acitretin had the strongest effects.


CONCLUSIONS
ATRA, acitretin and tazarotene mediate apoptosis of A375 cells possibly through, at least partially, the mitochondrial pathway. Acitretin may be utilized as a valuable alternative for treating melanoma.
Ran
Li-wei
LW
Department of Dermatology, Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. wlbrlw@163.com
Tan
Sheng-shun
SS
Wang
Wan-juan
WJ
Qiu
Shi
S
Lei
Xiao-bing
XB
Zeng
Wei-hui
WH
D017255:Acitretin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012176:Retinoids
D017255:Acitretin; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014212:Tretinoin; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C086827:tazarotene; D012176:Retinoids