[The mechanisms and effects of lutein on inducing the cell differentiation of human esophagus cancer EC9706].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of lutein on the differentiation of esophagus cancer EC9706 cell. METHODS: EC9706 cells were seeded in 1640 medium before the addition of test compounds. The respective test compound was added in fresh medium and the control cell received the vehicle (DMSO) or Fluorouracil. The proliferation and cell cycle of EC9706 were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The change in cytomorphology was investigated by using HE staining. Proliferation and differentiation cells were checked and observed by methyl green-pyronine staining. The protein expression of cyclin D1 was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the DMSO control group, the proliferation of the EC9706 cells treated with lutein (100 microg/mL and 150 microg/mL) could markedly be decreased and the cell cycle was blocked at G0/G1 phage which caused significant changes in the cytomorphology of EC9706 cell line, and the cell malignant degree tended to drop down, the protein expression of cyclin D1 was also down-regulated significantly. CONCLUSION: Lutein can inhibit the proliferation of EC9706 cell, and promote the cancer cell differentiation. cyclin D1 may be involved in cell proliferation and differentiation events in esophageal cancer EC9706 cell, which is regulated by lutein.