Isothiocyanate-induced Cell Cycle Arrest in a Novel In Vitro Exposure Protocol of Human Malignant Melanoma (A375) Cells.

Abstract

Several studies have documented the effects of isothiocyanates (ITCs) on cancer prevention by inducing oxidative stress, activating apoptosis, affecting cell-cycle regulation, etc. Previously, we have shown that ITCs, administered at low concentrations by the means of double-bolus are capable of potentiating cytotoxicity in human malignant melanoma (A375) cells by inducing apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the effect of the treatment of A375 cells with ITCs on cell-cycle progression and the levels of various cell cycle regulators. Cell-cycle analysis was performed by means of flow cytometry whereas western immunoblotting was used to determine the expression levels of these protein regulators. Our data showed an increase in the number of cells in the G2/M phase accompanied by a decrease in the G0/G1 phase, while several cell-cycle regulators were shown to be differentially expressed upon exposure to ITCs. ITCs induced cell-cycle arrest in A375 cells.