Arsenic compounds activate the MAPK and caspase pathways to induce apoptosis in OEC‑M1 gingival epidermal carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Ning‑Ping Foo
    • Chi‑Lin Ko
    • Chiao‑Yun Chu
    • Chia‑Yih Wang
    • Edmund Cheung So
    • Bu‑Miin Huang
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  • Published online on: October 7, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7793
  • Pages: 2701-2714
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Abstract

Arsenic is a well‑documented environmental toxicant that can induce neurotoxicity and peripheral vascular diseases. In fact, arsenic trioxide has been used to treat various cancer types. Oral cancer has been in the top ten common cancers for decades in Taiwan, and the incidence rate is continuously increasing. The majority of oral cancers are associated with excessive tobacco, alcohol consumption and betel chewing. To the best of our knowledge, no study has revealed the effect of arsenic compounds on oral cancers. Thus, the present study used OEC‑M1 oral squamous carcinoma cells treated with sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) to determine whether both arsenic compounds could exert anticancer effects on oral cancer. The results demonstrated that NaAsO2 and DMA induced rounding up and membrane blebbing in OEC‑M1 cells, which are morphological characteristics of apoptosis. Annexin V/PI double staining analysis further confirmed that both arsenic compounds induced apoptosis of OEC‑M1 cells. In addition, NaAsO2 and DMA significantly decreased the survival rate and increased the percentage of OEC‑M1 cells in the subG1 and G2/M phases (P<0.05). Furthermore, both arsenic compounds significantly activated the cleavage of caspase‑8, ‑9, ‑3 and PARP, and the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK1/2 and p38 in OEC‑M1 cells (P<0.05). Collectively, the findings of the present study indicated that NaAsO2 and DMA stimulate extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways through the activation of the MAPK pathways to induce apoptosis of OEC‑M1 cells, suggesting that NaAsO2 and DMA may be used as novel anticancer drugs for oral cancers.
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December-2020
Volume 44 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Foo NP, Ko CL, Chu CY, Wang CY, So EC and Huang BM: Arsenic compounds activate the MAPK and caspase pathways to induce apoptosis in OEC‑M1 gingival epidermal carcinoma. Oncol Rep 44: 2701-2714, 2020.
APA
Foo, N., Ko, C., Chu, C., Wang, C., So, E.C., & Huang, B. (2020). Arsenic compounds activate the MAPK and caspase pathways to induce apoptosis in OEC‑M1 gingival epidermal carcinoma. Oncology Reports, 44, 2701-2714. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7793
MLA
Foo, N., Ko, C., Chu, C., Wang, C., So, E. C., Huang, B."Arsenic compounds activate the MAPK and caspase pathways to induce apoptosis in OEC‑M1 gingival epidermal carcinoma". Oncology Reports 44.6 (2020): 2701-2714.
Chicago
Foo, N., Ko, C., Chu, C., Wang, C., So, E. C., Huang, B."Arsenic compounds activate the MAPK and caspase pathways to induce apoptosis in OEC‑M1 gingival epidermal carcinoma". Oncology Reports 44, no. 6 (2020): 2701-2714. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7793