[Effect of selenium dioxide on proliferation, apoptosis, and elomerase activity of human lung cancer cell line in vitro].

BACKGROUND &
OBJECTIVE: It was reported that selenium could induce apoptosis of cancer cells; moreover, apoptosis of cancer cells and telomerase activity were closely related to the development of cancer. This study was designed to investigate the effect of selenium dioxide on human pulmonary adenocarcinoma GLC-82 cell to reveal its probable mechanism and the relationship between apoptosis and telomerase activity.
METHODS: Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method was used to determine the growth inhibition rates of lung cancer GLC-82 cells by various concentrations of selenium dioxide at different time. TRAP-PCR-ELISA assay was used to examine the changes of GLC-82 cells treated with selenium dioxide. The cell apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry (FCM). DNA ladder was showed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The morphological changes of the cancer cells were examined under light and electron microscope.
RESULTS: After being treated with 3, 10, 30 micromol/L selenium dioxide, the proliferation and telomerase activity of GLC-82 cells were markedly inhibited. The growth inhibition rates in GLC-82 cells for 24 hours were 0.7%, 12.8%, and 31.8%; for 72 hours were 15.1%, 51.2%, and 61.1%, respectively. Telomerase activity of GLC-82 cells for 24 hours were 1.173+/-0.029,1.127+/-0.067, and 1.050+/-0.098(P< 0.05); for 48 hours were 1.150+/-0.026, 1.047+/-0.060, and 0.950+/-0.036(P< 0.05), respectively (control group: 1.227+/-0.032 and 1.167+/-0.023, respectively). An apoptosis peak appeared before diploid peak in FCM. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed overt ladder-shape band of cell apoptosis. GLC-82 cells treated by selenium dioxide showed morphological characteristics of apoptotic cells.
CONCLUSION: Selenium dioxide could significantly inhibit the growth of lung cancer GLC-82 cells through inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the telomerase activity. Selenium dioxide has strong growth inhibitory effect in a dose-and time-dependent manner.