The effect on apoptotic phaenotype of gastric cancer cell BGC823 induced by Parthenolide

Objective:To investigate the effect on apoptotic phaenotype of gastric cancer cell BGC823 induced by Parthenolide.Methods: Cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTT. Morphological change of BGC823 was observed by light microscope.Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential(ΔΨm) stained with rhodamine123 was examined by flow cytometry. Caspase-3 activity was assessed by ELISA assay .Expression of Bcl-2 protein was detected by Western blot assay.Results: Parthenolide inhibited the proliferation of BGC823 cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. After exposed to parthenolide for 24h, ΔΨm decreased in a concentration dependent manner. Light microscopy showed apoptotic morphological changes in BGC823 cells. After 100 μmol/L parthenolide treatment for 6 hours, the activity of caspase-3 increased, then declined gradually, but Caspase-3 activity remain increased till 48h. Western blot assay showed that after exposed to parthenolide for various time,the expression of Bcl-2 protein declined gradually. Conclusion: Parthenolide can induce apoptosis of BGC823 cells by decreasing Bcl-2 expression and increasing Caspase-3 activity.