Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the cytotoxic effects and related signaling pathways of curcumin on human uveal melanoma cells in vitro.
Methods: :
Two human uveal melanoma cell lines (M21 and SP6.5) and scleral fibroblasts were treated with curcumin. The effects of curcumin on cell viability were assessed using the MTT assay. Cytosol cytochrome c levels and the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: :
Curcumin induced cell death of cultured human uveal melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and time-dependent manner, with IC50s at 19.05 µM and 22.39 µM in M21 and SP6.5 cell lines, respectively. Curcumin at lower concentrations (10-30 µM) selectively reduced the cell viability of uveal melanoma cells, without affecting cell viability of fibroblasts. Curcumin significantly increased the level of cytosol cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities of uveal melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusions: :
Curcumin has potent selective cytotoxic effects on cultured human uveal melanoma cells. This effect is associated with the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 in uveal melanoma cells after treatment with curcumin.
Keywords: melanoma • cell survival • uvea