[Relationship between function and structure of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels]

Curcumin inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer cells by impairing ATP-sensitive potassium channel opening

BACKGROUND

This study was aimed to investigate whether ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) is involved in curcumin's anti-proliferative effects against gastric cancer.

METHODS

In an in vitro study, gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was treated with curcumin at serial concentrations and co-administrated with the KATP opener, diazoxide. The effect of curcumin and diazoxide on proliferation were assessed by MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was studied by flow cytometry detection of rhodamine 123 staining. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry detection of Annexin V propidium iodide double staining. In an in vivo study, SGC-7901 cells were planted into nude mice as xenografts. Animals were treated with curcumin co-administered with diazoxide. Tumor volume and tumor weight were observed.

RESULTS

Curcumin incubation significantly induced loss of MMP in SGC-7901 cells in a dose- dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptotic rate also dramatically increased after curcumin incubation in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). After co-administration with diazoxide, however, we found that both the MMP-loss-inducing and the apoptosis-inducing effects of curcumin in SGC-7901 cells were significantly impaired (all P < 0.05). As a result, the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was maintained by diazoxide treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Impaired mitoKATP opening causes MMP loss, and is involved in curcumin-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer.

Selenium attenuates adriamycin-induced cardiac dysfunction via restoring expression of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in rats

The possible mechanism of adriamycin (ADR) and/or selenium (Se) deficiency-induced cardiac dysfunction, and cardioprotective effects of Se against ADR-induced cardiac toxicity were investigated in this study. Cardiac function was evaluated by plasma brain natriuretic peptide level and echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters. Cardiac glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was assessed spectrophotometrically. Expression of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) subunits-SUR2A and Kir6.2-were examined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that cardiac function and cardiac GPx activity decreased remarkably after administration of ADR or Se deficiency; more dramatic impairment of cardiac function and cardiac GPx activity were observed after co-administration of ADR and Se deficiency. Mechanically, it is novel for us to find down-regulation of KATP subunits gene expression in cardiac tissue after administration of ADR or Se deficiency, and more significant inhibition of cardiac KATP gene expression was identified after co-administration of ADR and Se deficiency. Furthermore, cardiac toxicity of ADR was found alleviated by Se supplementation, accompanied by restoring of cardiac GPx activity and cardiac KATP gene expression. These results indicate that decreased expression of cardiac KATP is involved in adriamycin and/or Se deficiency-induced cardiac dysfunction; Se deficiency exacerbates adriamycin-induced cardiac dysfunction by future inhibition of KATP expression; Se supplementation seems to protect against adriamycin-induced cardiac dysfunction via restoring KATP expression, showing potential clinical application in cancer chemotherapy.