Studies on apoptosis induced by B-norcholesteryl benzimidazole compounds in HeLa cells

Abstract

Certain B-norcholesteryl benzimidazole compounds were found to mediate marked anti-tumor proliferative effects in vitro in our earlier study. Here, the mechanism of action of these anti-tumor effects was evaluated using HeLa human cervical cancer cells. Methods for detecting cell invasion and migration, Annexin V-PI double staining, cell cycle status, and mitochondrial membrane potential Δψm were employed. These compounds were confirmed to significantly inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells in vitro. Compound 1 induced apoptosis in S phase, compound 2induced apoptosis in the G0/G1 phase and compound 3 induced late apoptosis in the G2/M phase. These compounds induced HeLa cell apoptosis through depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential Δψm in a dose-dependent manner. B-norcholesteryl benzimidazole compounds induced morphological changes in HeLa cells and inhibited proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Apoptosis was promoted by mechanisms involving p21 and p53 in this cervical cancer cell line.