Downregulation of growth differentiation factor-15 in trichostatin A-induced apoptosis could play a role in progression of gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the effect of trichostatin A (TSA) on gastric cancer cell line BGC-823, and identify the differentially expressed genes induced by TSA, which might participate in the progression of gastric cancer. METHODS: MTT, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of TSA on growth inhibition and apoptosis of BGC-823 cells. Using gene microarray, we analyzed the changes in gene expression. Change in growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) was verified by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The expression of GDF-15 in gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Apoptosis of BGC-823 cells induced by TSA (75 ng/mL for 48 h) was demonstrated by flow cytometry. There were significant variations between TSA treated groups and control groups (P = 0.02). Nuclear chromatin condensation and fluorescence intensity were observed by fluorescence microscopy. GDF-15 gene expression and protein level were significantly reduced in the TSA treated group (75 ng/mL for 48 h). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the expression of GDF-15 in gastric adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than in the surrounding normal tissues (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lower GDF-15 gene expression due to TSA-induced apoptosis was found in gastric cancer cell line BGC-823. Higher GDF-15 gene expression was seen in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues.