Apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells induced by Triptolide

Figure 1 The effect of TL on the growth of SW1990 cells. SW1990 cells were treated with various concentrations of TL for 6 h, 12 h, 24 h or 48 h and viability was determined by MTT assay.

Figure 2 Triptolide induces significant cell death in pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990. A: TL 0 ng/mL; B: TL 40 ng/mL; C: TL 160 ng/mL. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.001.

Figure 3 TL induced apoptosis in SW1990 cell lines. SW1990 cells were suspensed in 100 &mgr;L binding buffer and Annexin V/PI double staining was performed, results showed that 40 ng/mL TL indued increased number of apoptotic cells (Annexin V⁺/PI^-).

Figure 4 Apoptotic cell death was revealed by TUNEL staining after 24 h (A, B, C magnification, × 200; D, E, F magnification, × 400) of treatment TL. A, D (TL 0 ng/mL); B, E (TL 40 ng/mL); C, F (TL 160 ng/mL); Apoptotic cells appeared dark after staining.

Figure 5 Detection of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 gene in TL-treated SW1990 cells. Cells were treated with various concentrations of TL and Bcl-2 ,Bax and caspase-3 genes were analyzed by RT-PCR. A: 1: TL 0 ng/mL; 2: TL 40 ng/mL; 3: TL 80 ng/mL; 4: TL 160 ng/mL; B: 1: Caspase-3; 2: Bax; 3: Bcl-2. ^bP < 0.01, ^dP < 0.001.