Staurosporine-induced apoptosis and hydrogen peroxide-induced necrosis in two human breast cell lines.

Abstract

The use of apoptosis-inducing agents in the treatment of malignant cancer is increasingly being considered as a therapeutic approach. In this study, the induction of apoptosis and necrosis was examined in terms of temporal dose responses, comparing a malignant and nonmalignant breast cell line. Staurosporine (SSP)-induced apoptosis and H(2)O(2)-induced necrosis were evaluated by two cytotoxicity assays, neutral red (NR) and methyl-thiazolyl tertrazolium (MTT), in comparison with a differential dye uptake assay, using Hoechst33342/propidium iodide (Hoechst/PI). Confirmatory morphological assessment was also performed by routine resin histology and transmission electron microscopy. Cell viability was assessed over a 0.5-48 h time course. In nonmalignant HBL-100 cells, 50 nM SSP induced 100% apoptosis after a 48 h exposure, while the same exposure to SSP caused only 4% apoptosis in metastatic T47D cells. Although complete apoptosis of both cell lines was induced by 50 microM SSP, this effect was delayed in T47D (24 h) compared with HBL-100 (4 h). Results also showed that neither MTT or NR can distinguish between the modes of cell death, nor detect the early onset of apoptosis revealed by Hoechst/PI.

• Authors: A L McKeague, D J Wilson, John Nelson
• Journal: British journal of cancer (Br J Cancer) Vol. 88 Issue 1 Pg. 125-31 (Jan 13 2003) ISSN: 0007-0920 [Print] England
• PMID: 12556971 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Staurosporine

Topics

• Apoptosis
• Breast Neoplasms (pathology)
• Cell Line
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Hydrogen Peroxide (pharmacology)
• Necrosis
• Staurosporine (pharmacology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured