title: Desipramine-induced apoptosis in human PC3 prostate cancer cells: activation of JNK kinase and caspase-3 pathways and a protective role of [Ca2+]i elevation.
abstract: The antidepressant desipramine has been shown to induce a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) and cytotoxicity in human PC3 prostate cancer cells, but the mechanisms underlying its cytotoxic effect is unclear. Cell viability was examined by WST-1 assays. Apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide staining and an increase in caspase-3 activation. Phosphorylation of protein kinases was analyzed by immunoblotting. Desipramine caused cell death via apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Immunoblotting data revealed that desipramine activated the phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). SP600125 (a selective JNK inhibitor) partially prevented cells from apoptosis. Pretreatment with BAPTA/AM, a Ca2+ chelator, to prevent desipramine-induced [Ca2+]i rises worsened desipramine-induced cytotoxicity. Immunoblotting data suggest that BAPTA/AM pretreatment enhanced desipramine-evoked JNK phosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage. The results suggest that in PC3 cells, desipramine caused apoptosis via inducing JNK-associated caspase-3 activation, and [Ca2+]i rises may slow down or alleviate desipramine-induced cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hong-Chiang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chorng-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chun-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jin-Shiung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shiuh-In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jeng-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hong-Tai
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jong-Khing
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chiang-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chung-Ren
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D003891:Desipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D002118:Calcium; D003891:Desipramine