Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
A Novel In Vitro Wound Healing Assay to Evaluate Cell Migration
Published on: March 17, 2018
Effect of nitric oxide on the proliferation of AGS gastric cancer cells
Jian-Rong Sang1, Yong-Chang Chen, Gen-Bao Shao
1Department of Physiology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China. sangjianrong@yahoo.com.cn
Background And Objective:
Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in many physiologic and pathologic processes. As an important biologic mediator, NO has been the focus of cancer study for its function in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and death. This study investigated the effect of NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the growth and proliferation of gastric cancer cell line AGS.
Methods:
The growth inhibition of AGS cells was analyzed using MTT assay. The cell cycle was measured using flow cytometry. The changes of mRNA expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 were examined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expressions of PCNA and caspase-3 were analyzed using Western blot.
Results:
Dose-dependent SNP inhibited cell growth and proliferation. When the AGS cells were treated with SNP at 100, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mumol/L for 24 h, the growth inhibition rates were (2.02 +/- 2.96)%, (10.82 +/- 2.21)%, (18.95 +/- 3.35)%, (26.88 +/- 2.54)%, and (42.57 +/- 1.27)%, respectively (P < 0.05). SNP altered the cell cycle in AGS cells. Compared with the control group, treatment with SNP at 100, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mumol/L for 24 h reduced the number of cells in the S phase by 2.29%, 7.8%, 11.34%, 20.49%, and 23.6%, respectively, and enhanced the number of cells in the G1/G0 phases by 3.33%, 9.3%, 13.46%, 21.37%, and 24.73%, respectively (P < 0.05). With the increasing concentration and action time of SNP, the expressions of PCNA mRNA and protein decreased. The expression of caspase-3 mRNA remained unchanged, but procaspase-3 was activated.
Conclusion:
NO not only inhibits cell growth and proliferation, but also induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, and such effects of NO showed significant dose-dependent activity.
Insights
Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, effectively inhibits gastric cancer cell growth and proliferation. SNP treatment also induces apoptosis in these cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) is a key mediator in physiological and pathological processes.
- NO plays a significant role in cancer, influencing tumorigenesis, progression, and patient outcomes.
- Gastric cancer research increasingly focuses on the role of NO in disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the growth and proliferation of the AGS gastric cancer cell line.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which NO affects gastric cancer cell behavior.
Main Methods:
- Cell growth inhibition was assessed using the MTT assay.
- Cell cycle distribution was analyzed via flow cytometry.
- mRNA and protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 were evaluated using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.
Main Results:
- SNP demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of AGS cell growth and proliferation.
- SNP treatment altered the cell cycle, decreasing S-phase cells and increasing G1/G0 phase cells.
- PCNA expression (mRNA and protein) decreased with increasing SNP concentration and duration, while caspase-3 activation was observed.
Conclusions:
- Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits gastric cancer cell growth and proliferation.
- NO induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.
- These anti-cancer effects of NO are dose-dependent.
