Anti-proliferation effect of curcumin on human gallbladder carcinoma cell line

Objective To explore the anti-proliferation effect of curcumin on human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells and its mechanism.Methods The growth inhibition of GBC-SD cells treated with curcumin of 0,10,30,50,and 70 mg/L was detected by using methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay.The growth inhibition of GBC-SD cells treated with curcumin of 30 mg/L at 0,12,24,48 and 72 h was detected.Control group,10 mg/L curcumin group,30 mg/L curcumin group and 50 mg/L curcumin group were set up.The apoptosis rate was tested by using flow cytometry.After curcumin treatment for 24 h,the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Cyclin D1 were detected by using Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),respectively.The mRNA levels of bax and B lymphocytes/leukemia-2 (bcl-2) were examined by using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results Curcumin could significantly inhibit the viability of GBC-SD cells in a time-and dosedependent manner.After treatment with curcumin (10,30,and 50 mg/L),the survival rate was (95.34 ±9.21)％,(70.63 ± 11.09)％ and (50.58 ± 6.31)％,respectively.There was significant difference between control group and 30 mg/L curcumin group or 50 mg/L curcumin group (P ＜ 0.05) ;The apoptosis rate was (9.83 ± 1.98)％,(37.25 ± 1.21)％ and (57.63 ±7.38)％,respectively.There was significant difference between control group and 30 mg/L curcumin group or 50 mg/L curcumin group (P ＜ 0.05).30 mg/L and 50 mg/L curcumin could down-regulate the expression of NF-κB and CyclinD1,reduce the expression of bcl-2 and enhance the expression of bax.However,10 mg/L curcumin had no evident effect on genes mentioned above.Conclusion Curcumin could not only down-regulate the expression of NF-κB and Cyclin D1,but also reduce the mRNA level of bcl-2 and up-regulate the mRNA level of bax,causing the reduced bcl-2/bax ratio,which could effectively inhibit the proliferation of gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells and induce cell apoptosis. Key words: Curcumin;  Gallbladder carcinoma;  Apoptosis