Effects And Mechanisms Of Ursolic Acid On Human Pancreatic Carcinoma Cell Line SW1990

Objective: To study the effects and mechanisms of ursolic acid on human pancr- eastic carcinoma cell line SW1990.Metheods: After UA treatment, the growth inhibition of SW1990 cells were assessed by MTT assay. Cells were evaluated with flow cytometric analysis, Hoechst 33258 staining and transmission electron microscope after it was induced by UA;It's mechanisms was determined by RT-PCR analysis. The inhibitor of p53-pifithrin alpha (PFT-a) was applied to investigate the effect of p53 in the study. The p53 and Bcl-2 expression in SW1990 was examined by immunocytochemistry method.Results: The proliferation of SW1990 cells was significantly inhibited in a dose-and time-dependent manner after UA treatment. Cell apoptosis ratio and cell cycle arrest was examined by FCM; UA-induced apoptosis was confirmed by Hoechst 33258 staining and transmission electron microscope. After cells were treated by UA(40μmol/L), the expressions of p53, cytochrome C, caspase-3 increased whereas bcl-2 decreased. After the pretreatment of PFT-a on the SW1990 cell , the ratio of cell apoptosis became weakly.The immunocytochemistrical examination showed the expression of p53 mutated.Conclusions: It is significant that the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma cell line SW1990 could be inhibitated when treated by UA. UA can induce cell apoptosis. These effects might be related with the expressions of p53, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase-3.