The effect of MAPK inhibitors on arsenic trioxide-treated Calu-6 lung cells in relation to cell death, ROS and GSH levels.
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) can regulate many biological functions such as apoptosis and differentiation. We recently demonstrated that ATO-induced apoptosis in Calu-6 lung cancer cells is correlated with glutathione (GSH) content. Here, the effects of ATO and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors on Calu-6 cells were investigated in relation to cell growth, cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and GSH levels. Treatment with ATO inhibited the growth of the Calu-6 cells at 72 hours. ATO induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; DeltaPsi(m)). While general nonspecific ROS decreased in the ATO-treated Calu-6 cells, the intracellular superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) level including mitochondrial O(2)(-) increased. ATO also induced GSH depletion in the Calu-6 cells. The treatment with MAP kinase kinase (MEK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 inhibitors intensified the cell growth inhibition, cell death, MMP (DeltaPsi(m)) loss, and GSH depletion in the ATO-treated Calu-6 cells. In addition, the JNK and p38 inhibitors significantly increased the ROS levels including O(2)(-) in the ATO-treated Calu-6 cells. In conclusion, all the MAPK inhibitors slightly intensify cell death in the ATO-treated Calu-6 cells and the changes of ROS and GSH brought about by ATO and/or MAPK inhibitor treatment partially influence cell growth and death in Calu-6 cells.
Department of Physiology, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, JeonJu, Republic of Korea.
Yong Hwan
YH
Han
Hwa Jin
HJ
Moon
Bo Ra
BR
You
Sung Zoo
SZ
Kim
Suhn Hee
SH
Kim
Woo Hyun
WH
Park
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005978:Glutathione; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide