Effects of Celecoxib on Cycle Kinetics of Gastric Cancer Cells and Protein Expression of Cytochrome C and Caspase-9

Abstract

<br /><strong>Objective</strong>: This investigation aimed to determine effects of celecoxib on the cell cycle kinetics of the gastriccancer cell line MGC803 and the mechanisms involved by assessing expression of cytochrome C and caspase-9at the protein level. <br /><strong>Methods</strong>: Cell proliferation of MGC803 was determined by MTT assay after treatment withcelecoxib. Apoptosis was assessed using fluorescence staining and cell cycle kinetics by flow cytometry. Westernblotting was used to detect the expression of caspase-9 protein and of cytochrome C protein in cell cytosol andmitochondria. <br /><strong>Results</strong>: Celecoxib was able to restrain proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and timedependentmanner, inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, release of cytochrome C into the cytosol, and cleavageof pro-caspase-9 into its active form. <br /><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Celecoxib can induce apoptosis in MGC803 cells through amechanism involving cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial cytochrome C release and caspase activation.