Effects of chidamide combined with curcumin on human cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell line Hut78 and their molecular mechanisms

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of chidamide combined with curcumin on the proliferation of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) cell line Hut78, as well as their promotive effect on its apoptosis, and to explore their therapeutic mechanisms in CTCL. Methods Some Hut78 cells were treated with different concentrations of chidamide (0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 μmol/L) and 10 μmol/L curcumin alone or the combination of 1.2 μmol/L chidamide and 10 μmol/L curcumin for 24, 48 and 72 hours separately. MTS assay was conducted to estimate cell viability at each time point. After selection of chidamide concentrations, some Hut78 cells were treated with chidamide (0.6 and 1.2 μmol/L) and curcumin (10 μmol/L) alone or in combination (1.2 μmol/L chidamide and 10 μmol/L curcumin) for 24 hours, then, flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis and analyze cell cycle, real-time (RT) -PCR and Western-blot analysis were conducted to quantify the mRNA and protein expressions of apoptosis-associated genes Fas, caspase 8, nuclear factor (NF) -κB p65 as well as cell cycle-associated genes P21, CDK2 and cyclin E respectively. Statistical analysis was carried out by repeated-measures analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference (LSD) -t test. Results Chidamide could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Hut78 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner (F = 266.558, 564.966, respectively, both P 0.05) . Western-blot analysis showed that protein expressions of Fas, caspase 8 and P21 significantly increased, but those of NF-κB p65, CDK2 and cyclin E significantly decreased in the combined treatment group compared with the 0.6-, 1.2-μmol/L chidamide groups and blank control group receiving no treatment, which were in accordance with the above changes in mRNA expressions of these genes. Conclusion Chidamide can inhibit the growth of the CTCL cell line Hut78 by directly decelerating cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis, and the combibation with curcumin can markedly enhance the inhibitory effect of chidamide on the growth of Hut78 cells. Key words: Lymphoma, T-cell, cutaneous; Curcumin; Cell proliferation; Apoptosis; Chidamide; Hut-78 cell