Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to determine the effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on the cell proliferation and apoptosis of the human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.The possible underlying mechanisms were also investigated.
Methods The SKOV3 cells were treated with the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA.Cell growth was estimated by using the MTT assay, whereas the cell apoptosis rate was estimated by flow cytometry.Furthermore, Western blot analysis was used to detect the acetyl level of histone H4, whereas real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA of p21, Bcl-2, and Bax.
Results After treatment with SAHA, cellular growth was decreased, whereas cell apoptosis increased in SKOV3 cells in a concentration dependent manner (the different SAHA groups vs.the control group, P < 0.05), Meanwhile, the acetyl level of histone H4 was increased.The mRNA of p21 and Bax were similarly increased in a concentration dependent manner (the different SAHA groups vs.the control group, P < 0.05).By contrast, the mRNA of Bcl-2 was not significantly changed (the different SAHA groups vs.the control group, P > 0.05).
Conclusion SAHA could effectively inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in vitro.The increased acetyl level of the histones could enhance the p21 and Bax gene expression, as one of its mechanisms.