Abstract
We investigated the molecular mechanism by which ascorbic acid (AA) induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells, AGS cells. High concentration (more than 5 mM) of AA increased cellular iron uptake by increasing transferrin receptor (TfR) expression and induced AGS cell apoptosis which was inhibited by catalase. Interestingly, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor inhibited the upregulation of TfR and increased cell survival by AA. TfR-siRNA-transfected cells reduced apoptosis by AA. H 2O 2 increased TfR expression in AGS cells. Taken together, we concluded that high concentration of AA, through H 2O 2, induces apoptosis of AGS cells by p38-MAPK-dependent upregulation of TfR.
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