핵산합성 억제제인 decitabine과 NF-κB 활성 저해제인 PDTC의 병용 처리에 의한 인체 위암세포사멸 효과 증진

Increased Apoptotic Efficacy of Decitabine in Combination with an NF-kappaB Inhibitor in Human Gastric Cancer AGS Cells

Abstract

Cytidine analog decitabine (DEC)은 핵산 합성의 억제제로서 골수이형성 증후군 및 급성 골수성 백혈병 치료제로 사용되고 있다. 산화질소 합성에서 번역 단계를 억제하는 것으로 알려진 ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)는 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 대표적인 억제제이다. 본 연구에서는 인체 위암 AGS 세포를 대상으로 DEC와 PDTC의 병용 처리에 따른 세포증식 억제 기전을 조사하였다. 본 연구의 결과에 따르면 PDTC에 의한 AGS 세포의 증식 억제 효과는 DEC에 의해 농도 의존적으로 유의하게 증가하였으며, 이는 G2/M기의 세포주기 정지 및 apoptosis 유도와 관련이 있었다. PDTC와 DEC의 병용 처리에 의한 세포 사멸의 유도는 DNA 손상 유도와 관련이 있음을 H2AX의 인산화 증가로 확인하였다. 아울러 PDTC와 DEC의 병용 처리는 미토콘드리아 막 전위의 파괴를 유도하고, 세포 내 활성산소종(ROS)의 생성과 Bax의 발현을 향상시키고, Bcl-2 발현을 감소시켰으며 미토콘드리아에서 세포질로의 cytochrome c 유출을 증가시켰다. 또한 PDTC과 DEC의 병용 처리는 외인성 및 내인성 apoptosis 개시 caspase에 해당하는 caspase-8과 caspase-9의 활성뿐만 아니라 caspase-3의 활성화와 PARP 단백질의 분해를 유도하였다. 결론적으로 본 연구의 결과는 PDTC와 DEC의 병용 처리가 DNA 손상을 유발하고, ROS 증가와 연계된 외인성 및 내인성 apoptosis 사멸 경로를 활성화시킴으로써 AGS 세포의 증식을 억제하였음을 의미한다.

The cytidine analog decitabine (DEC) acts as a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor, whereas ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is an inhibitor of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible synergistic inhibitory effect of these two inhibitors on proliferation of human gastric cancer AGS cells. The inhibitory effect of PDTC on AGS cell proliferation was significantly increased by DEC in a concentration-dependent manner, and this inhibition was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and the induction of apoptosis. This induction of apoptosis by the co-treatment with PDTC and DEC was related to the induction of DNA damage, as assessed by H2AX phosphorylation. Further studies demonstrated that co-treatment with PDTC and DEC induced the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, and down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, ultimately resulting in the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Co-treatment with PDTC and DEC also activated caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are representative caspases of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. Co-treatment also activated caspase-3, which was accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these data clearly indicated that co-treatment with PDTC and DEC suppressed the proliferation of AGS cells by increasing DNA damage and activating the ROS-mediated extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways.

Fig. 1. Inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis by co-treatment with PDTC and DEC in AGS gastric cancer cells.

Fig. 2. Effects of PDTC and DEC on the cell cycle progression in AGS gastric cancer cells.

Fig. 3. Generation of ROS and induction of DNA damage by co-treatment with PDTC and DEC in AGS gastric cancer cells.

Fig. 4. Effects of combined treatment with PDTC and DEC on the MMP values and cytochrome c expression in AGS gastric cancer cells.

Fig. 5. Activation of caspases and degradation of PARP by combined treatment with PDTC and DEC in AGS MCF-7 gastric cancer cells.

Fig. 6. Effects of combined treatment with PDTC and DEC on the expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins in AGS gastric cancer cells.

Table 1. Antibodies used in the present study