Effects of DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine on biological behavior of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) on biological behavior of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell (ESCC) lines KYSE140 and KYSE150. Methods KYSE140 and KYSE150 cell lines were divided into the blank group, the control group and the experimental group. The cells in the blank group didn't do the treatment, and the cells in the control group were added to DMSO 2 μmol/L, while in the experimental group, cells were treated with different concentration (1, 2, 3 and 4 μmol/L) of 5-Aza-dC which affected respectively at different time (24, 48, 72 and 96 h). Cell proliferation was detected by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and the optimal drug concentration and time point were selected. Transwell assay was performed to detect the change of cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was used to observe the effects of drugs on cell apoptosis and cell cycle. The expression of PARP, Caspase-3, CCNB-1, and CCNE-1 were detected by Western blot. Results MTT result showed that the effective function time of 5-Aza-dC on KYSE140 and KYSE150 was 96 h at the concentration of 4 μmol/L. Under this condition, the cell ability of migration and invasion was decreased significantly. The migrated cell number of KYSE140 and KYSE150 respectively in the blank group, the control group and the experimental group was (193.3±8.6), (184.0±10.4), (61.7±7.1) and (112.0±6.4), (101.3±7.9), (26.3±5.7). The invasive cell number was (47.3±7.3), (38.7±5.1), (8.0±3.9) and (83.3±6.8), (74.7±5.7), (21.0±2.7), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that 5-Aza-dC increased the apoptosis of KYSE140 and KYSE150. The apoptosis rate of the blank group, the control group and the experimental group was (2.8±0.3)%, (11.2±0.7)%, (18.6±0.6)% for KYSE140 and (2.7±0.4)%, (9.8±0.4)%, (17.7±0.5)% for KYSE150. Compared with the other two groups, the cell number of G2/M phase in the experimental group was increased remarkably (P < 0.05). PARP and Caspase-3 were sheared evidently and the protein expression of CCNB-1 was up-regulated while the expression of CCNE-1 was down-regulated in the experimental group. Conclusion 5-Aza-dC can inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis of ESCC cells. Key words: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; DNA Methylation; 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine; Apoptosis; Cell cycle