title: A proteomic investigation into the human cervical cancer cell line HeLa treated with dicitratoytterbium (III) complex.
abstract: Lanthanides have been reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Human cervical cancer cell line HeLa was found to be more sensitive to dicitratolanthanum (III) complex ([LaCit2](3-)) than other cancer cell lines. However, the effect and mechanism of dicitratoytterbium (III) complex ([YbCit2](3-)) on HeLa cells is unknown. Using biochemical and comparative proteomic analyses, [YbCit2](3-) was found to inhibit HeLa cell growth and induce apoptosis. Similar to the effects of [LaCit2](3-), proteomics results from [YbCit2](3-)-treated cells revealed profound changes in proteins relating to mitochondria and oxidative stress, suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in [YbCit2](3-)-induced apoptosis. This was confirmed by the decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the increased generation of reactive oxygen species in [YbCit2](3-)-treated cells. Western blot analysis showed that [YbCit2](3-)-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the activation of caspase-9 and specific proteolytic cleavage of PARP, leading to an increase in the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and a decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. These results suggest a mitochondrial pathway of cell apoptosis in [YbCit2](3-)-treated cells, which will help us understand the molecular mechanisms of lanthanide-induced apoptosis in tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shenzhen University, Nanhai Road #3688, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiazuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Guangyan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D040901:Proteomics; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds