Hydroxysafflor-Yellow A Induces Human Gastric Carcinoma BGC-823 Cell Apoptosis by Activating Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPAR gamma)

Background: Anti-tumor properties of hydroxysafflor-yellow A (HSYA) have been recently revealed, as a series of apoptotic factors were confirmed to be regulated by HSYA and associated with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Gamma (PPAR gamma). In this study, we investigated the cell apoptosis mechanism of HSYA via activated PPAR gamma signal in human gastric carcinoma cells. Material/Methods: BGC-823 cells were cultured and divided into 5 independent groups: Tumor, HSYA, HSYA+PPAR gamma inhibitor (GW9662), and PPAR gamma agonist (RGZ), RGZ+GW9662. Cell proliferative activity was measured by MTT. Apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. The nuclear translocation of PPAR gamma was detected by immunofluorescence staining chemistry, and mRNA levels of PPAR gamma and caspase-3 were measured by real-time qPCR. Results: Compared to the RGZ group, the HSYA group (100 mu M) showed a similar inhibitory effect on the proliferation process of BGC-823 cells, inducing their apoptosis. As a result, the transition of BGC-823 cells from G0/G1 phase to S phase was blocked. HSYA was also found to promote the nuclear translocation of PPAR gamma, leading to increased expression of PPAR gamma and caspase-3. The regulatory effect of HSYA on BGC-823 cells could be further inhibited by PPAR gamma inhibitor in group GW9662. Conclusions: We report the inhibitory effect of HSYA on the proliferation of BGC-823 cells, which results in activating PPAR gamma-dependent cell cycle blocking and cell apoptosis, suggesting that PPAR gamma is a specific type of HSYA that can induce apoptosis of BGC-823 cells.