Sodium phenylbutyrate induces apoptosis in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: The effect of combined treatment with the topoisomerase I-inhibitor topotecan

  • Authors:
    • Giuseppe Calvaruso
    • Maria Carabillo
    • Michela Giuliano
    • Marianna Lauricella
    • Antonella D'Anneo
    • Renza Vento
    • Giovanni Tesoriere
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 1, 2001     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.6.1233
  • Pages: 1233-1237
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Abstract

Our results demonstrate that sodium phenylbutyrate, a compound with a low degree of toxicity, exerted a cytotoxic effect on human retinoblastoma Y79 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment of Y79 cells for 72 h with phenylbutyrate reduced cell viability by 63% at 2 mM and 90% at 4 mM. Cell death caused by phenylbutyrate exhibited the typical features of apoptosis, as shown by light and fluorescent microscopy. Western blot analysis demonstrated that exposure of Y79 cells to phenylbutyrate decreased the level of the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2 and induced the activation of caspase-3, a key enzyme in the execution phase of apoptosis. Moreover, treatment with phenylbutyrate markedly increased the level of acetylated histone-H3. Combined treatment with phenylbutyrate and topotecan, a topoisomerase I-inhibitor, resulted in a clear synergistic effect. We suggest that the effects exerted by phenylbutyrate on Y79 cells essentially depend on modifications of gene expression consequent to histone hyperacetylation.

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June 2001
Volume 18 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Calvaruso G, Carabillo M, Giuliano M, Lauricella M, D'Anneo A, Vento R and Tesoriere G: Sodium phenylbutyrate induces apoptosis in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: The effect of combined treatment with the topoisomerase I-inhibitor topotecan. Int J Oncol 18: 1233-1237, 2001
APA
Calvaruso, G., Carabillo, M., Giuliano, M., Lauricella, M., D'Anneo, A., Vento, R., & Tesoriere, G. (2001). Sodium phenylbutyrate induces apoptosis in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: The effect of combined treatment with the topoisomerase I-inhibitor topotecan. International Journal of Oncology, 18, 1233-1237. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.6.1233
MLA
Calvaruso, G., Carabillo, M., Giuliano, M., Lauricella, M., D'Anneo, A., Vento, R., Tesoriere, G."Sodium phenylbutyrate induces apoptosis in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: The effect of combined treatment with the topoisomerase I-inhibitor topotecan". International Journal of Oncology 18.6 (2001): 1233-1237.
Chicago
Calvaruso, G., Carabillo, M., Giuliano, M., Lauricella, M., D'Anneo, A., Vento, R., Tesoriere, G."Sodium phenylbutyrate induces apoptosis in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: The effect of combined treatment with the topoisomerase I-inhibitor topotecan". International Journal of Oncology 18, no. 6 (2001): 1233-1237. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.6.1233