Effect of triptolide on proliferation and apoptosis in A_ 549 lung cancer cell

AIM: To study the effect of triptolide on cell proliferation and apoptosis in A_ 549 human lung cancer cell. METHODS: The effect of triptolide on cell viability in A_ 549 cell was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry and DNA ladder analysis. Activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were assayed with caspase colorimetric assay kit. RESULTS: Triptolide (eg., 0.5 - 4.0 μg·ml~ -1 ) inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent way at 24 h in A_ 549 cells. The activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 was significantly increased at 24 h in A_ 549 cells when exposed to triptolide (eg., 0.5 - 4.0 μg·ml~ -1 ). CONCLUSION: Triptolide induces apoptosis in A_ 549 cells partly through mitochondrial signal transduction pathway.