title: Effect of thymol on Ca²⁺ homeostasis and viability in PC3 human prostate cancer cells.
abstract: Thymol is a phenolic compound that affects physiology in different cell models. However, whether
  thymol affects Ca²⁺ homeostasis in prostate cancer cells is unknown. The action of this compound on
  cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]i) and viability in PC3 human prostate cancer cells was explored.
  The results show that thymol at concentrations of 100-1500 μM caused [Ca²⁺]i rises in a concentration-dependent
  manner. Removal of extracellular Ca²⁺ reduced thymol’s effect by approximately 80%.
  Thymol-induced Ca²⁺ entry was confirmed by Mn²⁺ entry-induced quench of fura-2 fluorescence, and was
  inhibited by approximately 30% by Ca²⁺ entry modulators (nifedipine, econazole, SKF96365), and the
  protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X. In Ca²⁺-free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic
  reticulum Ca²⁺ pump inhibitor thapsigargin abolished thymol-induced [Ca²⁺]i rises. Treatment with thymol
  also abolished thapsigargin-induced [Ca²⁺]i rises. Thymol-induced Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic
  reticulum was abolished by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122. Thymol at 100-900 μM decreased
  cell viability, which was not reversed by pretreatment with the Ca²⁺ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)
  ethane-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM). Together, in PC3 cells, thymol
  induced [Ca²⁺]i rises by inducing PLC-dependent Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca²⁺
  entry via PKC-sensitive store-operated Ca²⁺ channels and other unknown channels. Thymol also induced
  Ca²⁺-dissociated cell death.
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Department of Biological Science and Technology, Chung Hwa College of Medical Technology, Tainan 71703, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jeng-Hsien
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Chia-Yi 61363, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Chia-Yi 61363, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chiang-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: I-Shu
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ko-Long
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Zhe
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong-Tai
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Tzu Hui Institute of Technology, Pingtung 92641, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chin-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, Chung Hwa College of Medical Technology, Tainan 71703, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Teng
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, Pingtung 90741, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pochuen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chung-Ren
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013943:Thymol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D013943:Thymol
keywords: endoplasmic reticulum; fura-2; prostate cancer cells; thymol; Ca²⁺