Calcium release induced by 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its copper complex contributes to tumor cell death

  • Authors:
    • Yun Fu
    • Youxun Liu
    • Jiangang Wang
    • Cuiping Li
    • Sufeng Zhou
    • Yun Yang
    • Pingxin Zhou
    • Chengbiao Lu
    • Changzheng Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 20, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5395
  • Pages: 1662-1670
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Abstract

Thiosemicarbazones display significant antitumor activity and their copper complexes also exhibit enhanced biological activities in most situations, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Therefore, investigation of the mechanism involved in the change upon chelation is required to extend our understanding of the effects of thiosemicarbazones. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (PCT) and its copper complex (PCT-Cu) on cell proliferation was investigated. The copper chelate exhibited a 3- to 10-fold increase in antitumor activity (with an IC50 <5 µM). The results showed that both PCT and PCT-Cu induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in vitro and in vivo, caused cellular DNA fragmentation, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and cell cycle arrest. Western blotting showed that both PCT and PCT-Cu induced apoptosis. Upregulation of GRP78 in HepG2 cells following treatment with the agents indicated that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurred. Furthermore calcium release was revealed in this study, suggesting that PCT and PCT-Cu disturbed calcium homeostasis. It was noted that PCT-Cu sensitized thapsigargin‑stimulated calcium release from the ER, which was correlated with the ROS level they induced, implying that the antitumor activity of PCT and PCT-Cu partly stemmed from calcium mobilization, a situation that was reported in few studies. Our findings may significantly contribute to the understanding of the anti‑proliferative effect of the derivatives of thiosemicarbazones along with their antitumor mechanism.
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March-2017
Volume 37 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Fu Y, Liu Y, Wang J, Li C, Zhou S, Yang Y, Zhou P, Lu C and Li C: Calcium release induced by 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its copper complex contributes to tumor cell death. Oncol Rep 37: 1662-1670, 2017
APA
Fu, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Li, C., Zhou, S., Yang, Y. ... Li, C. (2017). Calcium release induced by 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its copper complex contributes to tumor cell death. Oncology Reports, 37, 1662-1670. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5395
MLA
Fu, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Li, C., Zhou, S., Yang, Y., Zhou, P., Lu, C., Li, C."Calcium release induced by 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its copper complex contributes to tumor cell death". Oncology Reports 37.3 (2017): 1662-1670.
Chicago
Fu, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Li, C., Zhou, S., Yang, Y., Zhou, P., Lu, C., Li, C."Calcium release induced by 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its copper complex contributes to tumor cell death". Oncology Reports 37, no. 3 (2017): 1662-1670. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5395