Growth inhibition and apoptosis inducing mechanisms of curcumin on human ovarian cancer cell line A2780.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the growth inhibition effects and apoptosis inducing mechanisms of curcumin on human ovarian cancer cell line A2780.


METHODS
After treatment with 10 - 50 micromol/L curcumin for 6 - 24 h, the growth activity of A2780 cancer cells were studied by [4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry. Cellular apoptosis was inspected by flow cytometery and acridine orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent staining methods. The fragmentation of cellular chromosome DNA was detected by DNA ladder, the ultrastructural change was observed under a transmission electron microscope, and the protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB, P65) and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-3 (Caspase-3) in ovarian cancer cells were measured by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
After treatment with various concentrations of curcumin, the growth inhibition rates of cancer cells reached 62.05% - 89.24%, with sub-G(1) peaks appearing on histogram. Part of the cancer cells showed characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis under fluorescence and electron microscopes, and the rate of apoptosis was 21.5% - 33.5%. The protein expression of NF-kappaB was decreased, while that of Caspase-3 was increased in a time-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin could significantly inhibit the growth of human ovarian cancer cells; inducing apoptosis through up-regulating Caspase-3 and down-regulating gene expression of NF-kappaB is probably one of its molecular mechanisms.
Zheng
Li-duan
LD
Department of Pathology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. ld_zheng@hotmail.com
Tong
Qiang-song
QS
Wu
Cui-huan
CH
D000165:Acridine Orange; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003124:Colorimetry; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004996:Ethidium; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016328:NF-kappa B; D053148:Caspase 3; D004996:Ethidium; D000165:Acridine Orange; D003474:Curcumin