title: Astragalus extract inhibits destruction of gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells by anti-apoptosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the inhibitory effect of Astragalus memebranaceushas on gastric cancer cell supernatant-induced apoptosis of human peritoneal mesothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human peritoneal mesothelial cell (HPMC) line HMrSV5 was co-incubated with gastric cancer cell supernatant (MKN45) and/or Astragalus memebranaceushas. Morphological changes in gastric cancer cells were observed under phase-contrast microscope. Quantitative cell damage was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was determined under transmission electron microscope and quantified by detecting acridine orange/ethidium bromide-stained (AO/EB) condensed nuclei under fluorescent microscope or by flow cytometry. Expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were evaluated with immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological changes and exfoliation occurred and naked areas appeared in cultured HMrSV5 cells 24 h after they were treated with gastric cancer cell supernatant. Cell supernatant from MKN45 gastric cancer cells induced apoptosis of HMrSV5 cells in a time-dependent manner. Obvious morphological changes were observed in cell apoptosis, such as condensation of chromatin, nuclear fragmentations and apoptotic bodies. Astragalus memebranaceus could partly suppress these changes and regulate the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in HMrSV5 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastric cancer cells induce apoptosis of HPMCs through the supernatant. Astragalus memebranaceushas inhibits this phenomenon and can be used an adjuvant chemothera-peutic agent in gastric cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Fu-Nan
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Zong-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Hui-Mian
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D010537:Peritoneum; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein