Dai Zhi-jun, Gao Jie, Ji Zong-zheng, Wang Xi-jing, Ren Hong-tao, Liu Xiao-xu, Wu Wen-ying, Kang Hua-feng, Guan Hai-tao
Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xiwu Road 157#, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi province, PR China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 May 4;123(1):91-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.02.022. Epub 2009 Mar 3.
Matrine, an alkaloid purified from the chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, is well known to possess activities including anti-inflammation, anti-fibrotic and anticancer. In this study, the mechanism of matrine inducing the apoptosis of gastric carcinoma cells was investigated.
Proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was examined by MTT assay. Cellular morphology was observed under transmission electron microscope. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to observe the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells by staining with annexinV-FITC/PI. The expression levels of Fas/FasL in SGC-7901 cells were monitored by FCM analysis using an indirect immunofluorescence method. Activity of caspase-3 enzyme was measured by spectrofluorometry.
MTT assay showed that matrine inhibited SGC-7901 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis induction was demonstrated by morphological changes under electron microscope and FCM analysis. Fluorescence intensity levels of Fas and FasL were found to be equally up-regulated after matrine treatment, which were both correlated with apoptosis rate. The activity of caspase-3 enzyme increased in matrine groups, positively correlated with apoptosis rate.
Matrine could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in vitro. The apoptosis induction appears to proceed by up-regulating Fas/FasL expression and activating caspase-3 enzyme.
苦参碱是从中药苦参中提取的一种生物碱，已知具有抗炎、抗纤维化和抗癌等活性。本研究旨在探讨苦参碱诱导胃癌细胞凋亡的机制。
采用MTT法检测SGC-7901细胞的增殖情况。通过透射电子显微镜观察细胞形态。采用膜联蛋白V-异硫氰酸荧光素/碘化丙啶染色，利用流式细胞术（FCM）观察SGC-7901细胞的凋亡情况。采用间接免疫荧光法，通过FCM分析监测SGC-7901细胞中Fas/FasL的表达水平。用荧光分光光度法检测半胱天冬酶-3的活性。
MTT法显示苦参碱以剂量和时间依赖性方式抑制SGC-7901细胞增殖。电子显微镜下的形态变化和FCM分析证实了细胞凋亡的诱导。苦参碱处理后，Fas和FasL的荧光强度水平均上调，且均与凋亡率相关。苦参碱组半胱天冬酶-3的活性增加，与凋亡率呈正相关。
苦参碱在体外可抑制SGC-7901细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡。凋亡诱导似乎是通过上调Fas/FasL表达和激活半胱天冬酶-3来实现的。
