Apoptosis induced by the sodium butyrate in human gastric cancer TMK-1 cells.

Abstract

The effects of sodium butyrate on cell proliferation, gene expression, and apoptosis were investigated. Upon exposure to sodium butyrate the cells exhibited marked morphological changes, reduced cell proliferation and most cells died through apoptosis within 48 hours. In the presence of dexamethasone, however, the sodium butyrate-triggered apoptosis was markedly reduced. Studies using the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 indicated that the protective effect of dexamethasone was mediated through glucocorticoid receptor. Sodium butyrate markedly induced the c-jun proteins level, whereas the c-Myc protein was down-regulated rapidly. c-Jun protein may play an important role in the action of sodium butyrate since its induction preceded the onset of DNA fragmentation. In addition, preincubation of the cells with dexamethasone markedly delayed the induction of c-jun levels by sodium butyrate. Analysis of the expression of bel-2-related genes indicated that the Bcl-xS protein level was increased in the presence of sodium butyrate and the up-regulation of Bcl-xS by sodium butyrate was also blocked by dexamethasone. Taken together, these results indicate that c-myc, c-jun and Bcl-xS proteins may be involved in the mechanism of sodium butyrate-triggered apoptosis in these cells.