Resveratrol is a natural compound that affects cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and viability in different cells. This study examined the effect of
resveratrol on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)]i) and viability in PC3 human
prostate cancer cells. The Ca(2+)-sensitive
fluorescent dye fura-2 was used to measure [Ca(2+)]i and WST-1 was used to measure viability.
Resveratrol-evoked [Ca(2+)]i rises concentration-dependently. The response was reduced by removing extracellular Ca(2+).
Resveratrol-evoked Ca(2+) entry was not inhibited by
nifedipine,
econazole,
SKF96365 and the
protein kinase C inhibitor
GF109203X, but was nearly abolished by the
protein kinase C activator
phorbol 12-myristate 13
acetate. In Ca(2+)-free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor
2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone decreased
resveratrol-evoked rise in [Ca(2+)]i. Conversely, treatment with
resveratrol inhibited BHQ-evoked rise in [Ca(2+)]i. Inhibition of
phospholipase C with
U73122 did not alter
resveratrol-evoked rise in [Ca(2+)]i. Previous studies showed that
resveratrol between 10 and 100 µM induced cell death in various
cancer cell types including PC3 cells. However, in this study,
resveratrol (1-10 μM) increased cell viability, which was abolished by chelating cytosolic Ca(2+) with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic
acid-acetoxymethyl
ester (
BAPTA/AM). Therefore, it is suggested that in PC3 cells,
resveratrol had a dual effect on viability: at low concentrations (1-10 µM) it induced proliferation, whereas at higher concentrations it caused cell death. Collectively, our data suggest that in PC3 cells,
resveratrol-induced rise in [Ca(2+)]i by evoking
phospholipase C-independent Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca(2+) entry, via
protein kinase C-regulated mechanisms.
Resveratrol at 1-10 µM also caused Ca(2+)-dependent cell proliferation.