Effect of sulforaphane on anti-proliferation and apoptotic induction of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901

Objective To investigate the anti-proliferative effect of sulforaphane on human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 in vitro and the molecular mechanism of cell apoptosis induced by sulforaphane. Methods Sulforaphane and human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 were used for the study. MTT assay was used to observe the inhibition of cell proliferation on different concentrations of sulforaphane. AO /EB double staining and transmission electron microscope were applied to observation of morphological changes of apoptotic cells. The DNA fragmentation of apoptosis cells was examined by agarose gel electrophoresis. RT-PCR detected the expression of p21 gene mRNA. Results Sulforaphane in 50-150μmol /L concentration range could significantly suppress the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay. AO /EB double staining showed the typical apoptotic morphological changes induced by sulforaphane. Exposing to sulforaphane( 100μmol/L,150μmol/L) for 24 h,the formation of DNA Ladder was detectable in agarose gel electrophoresis. RT-PCR showed 50μmol /L sulforaphane could upregulate the p21 mRNA level in SGC7901 cells. Typical early apoptosis morphology changes of SGC7901 cells were notable in transmission electron microscope exposing to sulforaphane for 48 h. Conclusion Sulforaphane can inhibit the proliferation,induce apoptosis,and up-regulate the transcription and translation expression of p21 gene in SGC7901 cell line. The molecular mechanism is possibly related to the modulation of the level of p21 mRNA expression.