Effect of deoxycholic acid on Ca²⁺ movement, cell viability and apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells

Abstract

Deoxycholic acid (DOA) is one of the secondary bile acids used as a mild detergent for the isolation of membrane associated proteins. This study examined whether the secondary bile acid, DOA, altered Ca²⁺ movement, cell viability and apoptosis in SCM1 human gastric cancer cells. The Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 was used to measure [Ca²⁺]_i. DOA-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rises concentration dependently. The response was reduced by removing extracellular Ca²⁺. DOA-evoked Ca²⁺ entry was inhibited by store-operated Ca²⁺ channel inhibitors (nifedipine, econazole and SKF96365), the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA) and the PKC inhibitor GF109203X. In Ca²⁺-free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) abolished DOA-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rises. Conversely, treatment with DOA abolished TG-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rises. Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 abolished DOA-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rises. At 100–500 μM, DOA decreased cell viability, which was not changed by chelating cytosolic Ca²⁺ with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM). DOA between 100 and 300 μM also induced apoptosis. Collectively, in SCM1 cells, DOA-induced [Ca²⁺]_i rises by evoking phospholipase C-dependent Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca²⁺ entry via store-operated Ca²⁺ channels. DOA also caused Ca²⁺-independent apoptosis.

• Apoptosis
• Ca²⁺
• deoxycholic acid
• endoplasmic reticulum
• gastric cancer cells

Declaration of interest

We declare no conflict of interest. This work was supported by PS102001.