The Effects Of Morphine On Growth And Proliferation Of Human Gastric Carcinoma MGC-803 Cells

Objective:To observe the effects of morphine on the growth and proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC-803 and explore the possible mechanisms.Methods:Human gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells were seeded in 6-well or 96-well plates and divided into 4 groups(n=54):0.1μmol/L morphine group,10μmol/L morphine group,1 mmol/L morphine group and control group. MGC-803 cells were cultured to logarithmic phase. The cells in morphine groups were incubated with 0.1μmol/L morphine, 10μmol/L morphine or 1 mmol/L morphine respectively while the cells in control group were incubated normally. The viability of cells was determined by MTT assay and the proliferation of cells was determined by colony formation assay. The cell cycle progression and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. The wound healing assay was used to detect the migration activity of MGC-803 cells and the ultrastructure of cells was examined with transmission electron microscope. The expression of PTEN, caspase-9, NF-κB and survivin were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.Results:The proliferation of MGC-803 cells was inhibited after exposed to 0.1μmol/L morphine,10μmol/L morphine or 1 mmol/L morphine respectively and the mean proliferation rates of MGC-803 cells in 0.1μmol/L morphine group,10μmol/L morphine group,1 mmol/L morphine group were lower than that in control group (P<0.05). Clones of gastric carcinoma cell line MGC-803 in morphine groups were fewer than those in control group (P＜0.05). In morphine groups, the proportion of cells in G2/M was higher than that in control group (P＜0.05). Compared with cells in control group, the apoptotic rates were higher and the migration activities were lower in morphine groups (P<0.05). Moreover, we observed apoptotic bodies in morphine groups. PTEN and caspase-9 mRNA and protein were upregulated while NF-κB and survivin mRNA and protein were downregulated in morphine groups.Conclusions:Morphine can induce apoptosis and inhibit growth and proliferation of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells possibly by downregulating NF-κB and survivin while upregulating PTEN and caspase-9 in vitro.