Apoptosis and cell growth inhibition effects of artesunate on human gastric adenocarcinoma MKN45 cell line

Objective To investigate the apoptosis and cell growth inhibition in vitro effects of artesunate(ART) on human gastric adenocarcinoma MKN45 cell line,and to explore the underlying mechanism of this action.Methods After MKN45 cell lines in vitro were treated with various concentrations of ART,cell growth inhibition ratio and apoptosis ratio were determined by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method and flow cytometry assay,respectively.The expression levels of apoptosis related proteins(Bcl-2,Bax,caspase-9 and caspase-3) after MKN45 cell lines treated with various concentrations of ART were detected by Western Blotting.Results The proliferation of MKN45 cells were significantly inhibited after treated with ART for 48 hours and this inhibitory action was dose-dependent(P0.05).The value of IC50 was 13.41 μmol·L-1.The proliferation and survival ability of MKN45 cells were inhibited by 13.41 μmol·L-1ART,and this inhibitory action was positive correlated with time-and dose-dependent(P0.05).With the increase of concentration of ART,the apoptosis ratio of MKN45 cell was also elevated(P0.05).ART could down-regulate the expression level of Bcl-2 and up-regulate Bax,caspase-9 and caspase-3 protein levels.This regulation effect was obviously enhanced when the concentration of ART was increased.Conclusion ART can inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of human qastric adenocarcinoma MKN45 cell line in vitro.