[Pro-apoptotic effects of curcumin associated with CIK cells against ovarian carcinoma cells]

To observe the pro-apoptotic effects of Curcumin associated with CIK cells against SKOV3 cells of ovarian carcinoma and discusses the possible molecular mechanisms.

CIK cells were induced from umbilicus cord blood. The apoptotic morphology of SKOV3 cells was observed under electron microscope after treated with Cur, CIK cells and Cur associated with CIK cells. The levels of Fas protein on surface of ovarian cancer cells and FasL protein on surface of CIK cells after Curcumin treatment were determined by Western blot. The inhibition rates on proliferation of CIK cells and Cur associated with CIK cells after addition of FasL monoclonal antibody were detected by (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide) MTT.

The changes of apoptotic morphology in the group of Cur associated with CIK cells were most obvious compared with that in the group of Cur or CIK cells alone. Cur could promote the expression of Fas on surface of SKOV3 cells and FasL on membranes of CIK cells. The inhibition rates on proliferation in the group of CIK cells and Cur associated with CIK cells could be restrained obviously after an addition of anti-FasmAb.

The pro-apoptotic effects of SKOV3 cells increase with the combined use of Cur and CIK cells. The mechanism may be that Cur can promote the expression of Fas protein on cell surface of SKOV3 cells and FasL protein on cell membrane of CIK cells so as to up-regulate the expression of Fas protein in SKOV3 cells and lead ultimately to the a higher expression of Caspase3.