Apoptosis in human esophageal cancer cell line Ecaª²109 induced by the derivative of Dª²glucosamine via JNK signaling pathway

    QIANG Zhanª²Rong, WU Jing, ZHOU Yongª²Ning, LI Juan, YANG Guoª²Dong, WANG Aiª²Qing, XUE Qunª²Ji

    1Department of Gastroenterology, First Hospital, Lanzhou University

    2Lanzhou Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Acaª²demy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the role of cª²jun Nª²terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in the apoptosis of human esoª²phageal cancer Ecaª²109 cells induced by the derivative of Dª²glucosamine ({2ª²(3ª²carboxyª²1ª²oxopropyl)aminoª²2ª²deoxyª²Dª²Glucose}, COPADG) and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Ecaª²109 cells were cultured in vitro by using RPMIª²1640 and calf serum. Ecaª²109 cells were preª²incubated with SP600125 for 30 min prior to exposure to COPADG at different concentrations and for different time. Changes in expression of Pª²JNK protein were examined by Western Blot£» cell growth inhibitory rate was detected by MTT colorimetric assay£» the cell morphological changes were observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy. Apoptosis rate was analyzed by using Annexin V/PI fluorescence staining together with flow cytometry. RESULTS: COPADG could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Ecaª²109 cells and induce their apoptosis. Western Blot showed that the protein expression of Pª²JNK was increased in a doseª²dependent manner in Ecaª²109 cells after stimulated by COPADG. SP600125 remarkablely decreased the protein expression of Pª²JNK as well as the apoptosis rate and cell growth inhibitory rate in Ecaª²109 cells induced by COPADG as compared with those treated with only COPADG. CONCLUSION: JNK signaling pathway may play an important role in the apoptosis of Ecaª²109 cells following COPADG treatment. ......