Effect of nimesulide on growth of human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cell line and its possible mechanism

Objective:To explore the effects and possible mechanism of nimesulide in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis on human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cell line.Methods:Inhibition of Eca-109 cell growth induced by nimesulide at different concentrations was assayed by MTT method.Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry,moreover.DNA ladder was separated by agarose gel electrophoresis.Alterations of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors γ(PPAR γ) mRNA expression were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Western blot was used to analyze the expression of PPARγ protein expression.Results:Nimesulide 50-400 μmol/L inhibited the growth of Eca-109 cell line in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Nimesulide also increased the proportion of cells in G_0/G_1 phase,decreased the proportion of cells in S phase and induced apoptosis.Furthermore,nimesulide down-regulated the COX-2 mRNA expression and up-regulated the PPARγ expession.Conclusion:Nimesulide can inhibit the growth of Eca-109 cell line in vitro.The mechanism is probably associated with inhibition of cell proliferation,induction of G_0/G_1 arrest and apoptosis,down-regulation of the expression of COX-2 and up-regulation of the expression of PPARγ.