Abstract:

Objective To study the effects of triptolide on the apoptosis in and proliferation of a human melanoma cell line M14. Methods M14 cells were cultured with the presence of 5 concentrations （12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 nmol/L） of triptolide for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively, and cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used for the detection of cell proliferation. Some M14 cells were treated with triptolide at 10 nmol/L, 20 nmol/L and 30 nmol/L for 48 hours followed by the analysis of cell cycle by flow cytometry and detection of cell apoptosis by flow cytometry following annexin V- fluorescein isothiocyanate （FITC）/propidium iodide double staining. The morphological changes of M14 cells treated by triptolide at 30 nmol/L for 48 hours were observed by Hoechest 33258 staining. Results Compared with untreated M14 cells, an increase of cell population in S phase was observed in triptolide-treated cells，along with a decline in cell population in G2/M phase. The apoptosis rate was （2.92 ± 0.17）%, （20.99 ± 0.40）%, （34.28 ± 2.04）% and （63.38 ± 0.71） % respectively in M14 cells treated with triptolide at 0, 10, 20 and 30 nmol/L for 48 hours, suggesting that triptolide enhanced the proliferation of M14 cells in a dose-dependent manner. After treatment with triptolide of 30 nmol/L, M14 cells showed morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis. Conclusion Triptolide could inhibit the proliferation of and induce the apoptosis in M14 human melanoma cells.

Key words: Apoptosis