Molecular mechanisms of resveratrol-induced apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin found at high concentrations in grapes, nuts, fruits and red wine with reported anti -carcinogenic effects. In this study, the molecular mechanism of resveratrol -induced apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer (Panc 2.03) cells is investigated. Resveratrol treatment of Panc 2.03 cells results in dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and cells accumulated at the S phase transition of the cell cycle. The anti -proliferative effect of resveratrol is due to apoptosis as seen by the appearance of chrom atin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, DNA ladder formation and increased annexin V-stained cells. The apoptotic process is induced by decreased Bcl-2 expression concomitant with increased Bax expression, leading to an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and subsequent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. In addition, resveratrol treatment also decreases the survivin level and increases the apoptosis-inducing factor level in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that resveratrol induces apoptosis of Panc 2.03 cells, at least in part through a mitochondrial -associated intrinsic pathway in both caspasedependent and independent manners. The present findings suggest that resveratrol has potential as a chemopreventive agent, and possibly as a therapeutic one against pancreatic cancer.

Keywords

• pancreatic cancer (Panc 2.03) cell
• resveratrol
• apoptosis
• S phase arrest
• Bcl-2
• Bax
• survivin
• apoptosis-inducing factor