Resveratrol induces apoptosis in human esophageal carcinoma cells

AIM To investigate the apoptosis in esophageal cancer cellsinduced by resveratrol,and the relation between thisapoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.METHODS:In in vitro experiments,MTT assay was usedto determine the cell growth inhibitory rate.Transmissionelectron microscope and TUNEL staining method were usedto quantitatively and qualitively detect the apoptosis statusof esophageal cancer cell line EC-9706 before and after theresveratrol treatment.Immunohistochemical staining wasused to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated geneBcl-2 and Bax.RESULTS:Resveratrol inhibited the growth of esophagealcancer cell line EC-9706 in a dose-and time-dependentmanner.Resveratrol induced EC-9706 cells to undergoapoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics,includingmorphological changes of chromatin condensation,chromatincrescent formation,nucleus fragmentation and apoptoticbody formation.TUNEL assay showed that after thetreatment of EC-9706 cells with resveratrol(10 mmol·L-1)for 24 to 96 hours,the AIs were apparently increased withtreated time(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical stainingshowed that after the treatment of EC-9706 cells withresveratrol(10 mmol·L-1)for 24 to 96 hours,the PRs of Bcl-2proteins were apparently reduced with treated time(P<0.05)and the PRs of Bax proteins were apparently increased withtreated time(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Resveratrol is able to induce the apoptosisin esophageal cancer.This apoptosis may be mediated bydown-regulating the apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and up-regulating the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene bax.