Abstract:

Objective     To investigate the influence of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on proliferation and apoptosis of human pancreatic carcinoma PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cells and expression of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) mRNA.  Methods     The effects of EP and 5-FU alone and EP combined with 5-FU（EP group, E group; 5FU group, F group; EP combined with 5-FU group, EF group）on the proliferation and apoptosis of PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cells were measured by MTT and FCM, respectively.  HMGB1 mRNA expression level in PANC-1and AsPC-1 cells in each medication group was determined by real-time PCR(RT-PCR) .  Results     With the drug level gradually increasing, proliferation and HMGB1 mRNA expression level of pancreatic cancer cells were gradually decreased and the cell apoptosis ratio was gradually increased in each medication group. Inhibitory ratios of pancreatic carcinoma cells were all higher after being treated with E0.5225F10, E1.0450F20, E2.0900F40 and E3.1350F80, compared with the controlled E groups (P<0.05) . Apoptosis ratios of pancreatic cancer cells in EF groups were all raised compared with their controlled E groups (P<0.05) . Expression levels of HMGB1 mRNA were all degraded after being treated with E3.1350F80/E4.1800F160 compared with the controlled E groups(P<0.05)． Conclusion     EP could inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis by inhibiting HMGB1 expression in pancreatic carcinoma cells. Thus, EP has an effect of anti-pancreatic carcinoma, and further research is needed on its detailed mechanism and effect in vivo.

Key words: Pancreatic carcinoma; Ethyl pyruvate; 5-fluorouracil; High mobility group protein B1