[Apoptosis induced by curcumin and its effect on c-myc and caspase-3 expressions in human melanoma A375 cell line].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of curcumin on cell apoptosis and c-myc and caspase-3 expressions in human melanoma A375 cell line.


METHODS
A375 cells were exposed to curcumin treatment and growth inhibition of the cells was examined by MTT assay. Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining and DNA fragmentation analysis were employed for assay of the cell apoptosis and morphological changes of the cells were observed with inverted microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. In situ hybridization and SABC immunohistochemistry were performed for detection of the expressions of c-Myc and caspase-3 in the A375 cells.


RESULTS
Curcumin inhibited the growth of A375 cells in both time- and concentration-dependent manners. After treatment with 30 micromol/L curcumin for 48 h, apoptotic morphological changes were observed in the cells and an oligonucleosomal DNA ladder was clearly visualized in DNA fragmentation analysis. The apoptotic rates of the cells treated with curcumin at the concentration above 20 micromol/L were significantly higher than that of the control cells. c-myc expression level was decreased whereas caspase-3 expression increased with the increase in curcumin concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of A375 cells in vitro, and the genes encoding c-myc and caspase-3 may play a role in the process.
Qiu
Shi
S
Department of Dermatology, Second Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. qsh0322@163.com
Tan
Sheng-shun
SS
Zhang
Jiang-an
JA
Liu
An
A
Yuan
Jing-yi
JY
Rao
Guo-zhou
GZ
Wang
Wen-yong
WY
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D053148:Caspase 3; D003474:Curcumin