Published online May 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i5.915
Revised: November 23, 2002
Accepted: December 20, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
AIM: To evaluate the potential role of Nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, in proliferation and apoptosis of gastric adenocarcinoma cells SGC-7901.
METHODS: Cell counts and MTT assay were used to quantify the influence of Nimesulide in the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. Transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry were used to observe the induction of Nimesulide the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells and influence in the distribution of cell cycle. The expression of P27kip1 protein was observed by immunocytochemical staining.
RESULTS: SGC-7901 Cells treated with Nimesulide at various concentrations exhibited a profound dose- and time-dependent reduction in the proliferation rate over the 72 h test period. The highest survival rate of the cells was 78.7%, but the lowest being 22.7%. Nimesulide induced apoptosis of the cells in a dose-dependent and non-linear manner and increased the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase and decreased the proportion in the S and G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Meanwhile, Nimesulide could up-regulate the expression of P27kip1 protein.
CONCLUSION: The induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest are both anti-proliferative responses that likely contribute to the antineoplastic action of nimesulide on SGC-7901 cells. The up-regulation of P27kip1 gene may contribute to the accumulation of these cells in the G0/G1 phase following treatment with Nimesulide. Selective COX-2 inhibitor may be a new channel of the chemoprevention and chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma.