Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid plus carboplatin on proliferation and apoptosis of human lung cancer cell line A-549

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or EPA plus carboplatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human lung cancer cell line A-549.Methods A-549 cells were cultured by 100 μg/ml carboplatin,80 μg/ml EPA,and their combination for 48 hours.MTT assay was used to determine the effect of EPA,carboplatin,or their combination on the proliferation of human lung cancer cell line A-549.The morphological changes of human lung cancer cell line A-549 were observed using HE staining,and apoptosis of A-549 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results MTT assay showed that the proliferation inhibition rate of A-549 cells cultured with EPA plus carboplatin was 85.20％ ± 5.00％,which was significantly higher than that of cells cultured with 80 μg/ml EPA (32.85％ ± 3.00％,P =0.0001 ) or 100 μg/ml carboplatin (53.25％ ±3.00％,P =0.0013 ).HE staining showed apoptosis in all three groups,whereas the apoptosis rate reached 17.05％ ± 4.00％ in the combination group,which was significantly higher than that in carboplatin group (9.49％ ± 1.00％,P =0.0252).Conclusion EPA may enhance the effects of carboplatin in inhibiting the proliferation and promoting the apoptosis of human lung cancer cell line A-549. Key words: Eicosapentaenoic acid;  A-549 cell lines;  apoptosis