Effects of 10-hydroxycamptothecin on intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in silkworm BmN-SWU1 cells

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), a plant alkaloid isolated from Camptotheca acuminate, is known as a planted-derived insecticide, however, the specific mechanism in insect cells is still unclear. In this study, we treated the ovarian cell line of the silkworm, BmN-SWU1, with different HCPT doses for durations ranging from 0 to 72h. The apoptosis morphology was evident after 72h of incubation and included cell protuberance, concentrated cytoplasm and apoptotic bodies. We observed DNA fragmentation and cell apoptosis after HCPT treatment. The disruption of mitochondrial distribution, activation of the intracellular mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and release of cytochrome c during HCPT-induced apoptosis in dose and time-dependent manner indicate the involvement of mitochondria in BmN-SWU1 cells. Caspase-9 and -3 activities increased gradually with the duration of incubation time. In conclusion, HCPT has a significant effect to initiate the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in silkworm cells, providing a theoretical basis for better application of plant-derived insecticide in pest control.