Effect of Fas and caspase3 activation in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells by combining TRAIL with cisplatin

OBJECTIVE: To study the synergistic induction of apoptosis by the combination of TRAIL and cisplatin in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. METHODS: Rhabdomyosarcoma cells were treated with TRAIL, cisplatin for 3 days, respectively.The cytotoxicity was observed by MTT assay.The apoptotic rates and changes of Fas and caspase3 activation were shown by flow cytometry (FCM). The obvious morphological changes in rhabdomyosarcoma cells were comfirmed by a fluorescence microscope. RESULTS: After treated with TRAIL(1.0, 10.0, 100.0 μg/L), the cytotoxicity indexes of rhabdomyosarcome cells were 18.9%, 20.8%, 43.5%, respectively; with cisplatin(1.0, 5.0, 10.0 mg/L), the cytotoxicity indexes were 9.8%, 23.4%, 43.8%, respectively. TRAIL and cisplatin treatment used simultaneously, the cytotoxicity index increased obviously, Fas and caspase3 activation increased significantly, which were paralleled by the apoptotic rates.The obvious apotosis morphological changes in rhabdomyosarcoma cells were shown by a fluorescence microscope. CONCLUSION: TRAIL and cisplatin are able to kill rhabdomyosarcoma cells, respctively, while TRAIL with cisplatin together applied can have synergistic effect on rhabdomyosarcoma cells by increasing the caspase3 activity and suppressing mitochondrial membrane potential.