title: Effect of yessotoxin on cytosolic calcium levels in human hepatocellular carcinoma cellsin vitro.
abstract: Yessotoxin (YTX) and its analogs are a type of marine toxins found in marine environments in numerous coastal countries. These toxins tend to accumulate in filter-feeding molluscs and may threaten the shellfish industry and public health. Several previous studies indicated that YTX may induce apoptosis in different types of cell lines, although the exact underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to mainly focus on the effect of YTX on cytosolic Ca2+levels in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In order to investigate the exact mechanism of YTX-evoked Ca2+increase, laser scanning confocal microscopy was used, with the addition of the chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and nifedipine, an L-type Ca2+channel blocker, to the reaction system. The results demonstrated that YTX caused cytosolic Ca2+level increase in Bel7402 cells and the YTX-evoked Ca2+increase was successfully blocked by EGTA and nifedipine. Therefore, our results indicated that YTX may cause apoptosis via inducing Ca2+entry in Bel7402 cells.
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chun-Lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuexi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zong-Ling
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Bel7402 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells; Ca2+ level; toxicity; yessotoxin