The effect of the anti-inflammatory compound
NPC-14686 on intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺](i)) and viability in OC2 human
oral cancer cells was investigated. The Ca²⁺-sensitive
fluorescent probe fura-2 was used to examine [Ca²⁺](i).
NPC-14686 induced [Ca²⁺](i) rises in a concentration-dependent fashion. The effect was reduced approximately by 10% by removing extracellular Ca²⁺. NPC-14686- elicited Ca²⁺ signal was decreased by
nifedipine,
econazole,
SKF96365, and
GF109203X. In Ca²⁺-free medium, incubation with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump inhibitor
thapsigargin or
2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) abolished NPC-14686-induced [Ca²⁺](i) rises. Conversely, pretreatment with
NPC-14686 abolished
thapsigargin or BHQ-induced [Ca²⁺](i) rises. Inhibition of
phospholipase C with
U73122 abolished NPC-14686-induced [Ca²⁺](i) rises. At 20-100 μM,
NPC-14686 inhibited cell viability, which was not reversed by chelating cytosolic Ca²⁺ with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'- tetraacetic
acid-acetoxymethyl
ester (
BAPTA/AM).
NPC-14686 between 20 μM and 40 μM also induced apoptosis. Collectively, in OC2 cells,
NPC-14686 induced [Ca²⁺](i) rises by evoking
phospholipase C-dependent Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca²⁺ entry via
protein kinase C-regulated store-operated Ca²⁺ channels.
NPC-14686 also caused Ca²⁺-independent apoptosis.