Redox status-dependent regulation of cyclooxygenases mediates the capsaicin-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.

Cyclooxygenases (COX) appear to be involved in the mechanism of apoptosis in various cancer cells. In this study we investigated the role of COX in the capsaicin (Cap)-induced apoptosis in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. Cap induced decreased cell viability and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Cap also significantly reduced the basal generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in a time-dependent fashion. Cap markedly suppressed the expression of COX-1 and COX-2. Pretreatment with NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, or indomethacin, a nonselective COX inhibitor, significantly enhanced the Cap-induced decreased cell viability and apoptosis. Exogenous application of an oxidant, H2O2, significantly prevented the Cap-induced apoptosis and suppressed the expression of COX isoforms. These results suggest that redox status-dependent regulation of COX expression may mediate apoptosis induced by Cap in human neuroblastoma cells.