Thimerosal-Induced Apoptosis in Human SCM1 Gastric Cancer Cells: Activation of p38 MAP Kinase and Caspase-3 Pathways without Involvement of [Ca2+]i Elevation

• DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfm205
• Publication Date: 2007-08-14T00:25:09Z
• Authors: Shiuh-Inn Liu; Chorng-Chih Huang; Chun-Jen Huang; Being-Whey Wang; Po-Min Chang; Yi-Chien Fang; Wei-Chuan Chen; Jue-Long Wang; Yih-Chau Lu; Sau-Tung Chu; Chiang-Ting Chou; Chung-Ren Jan
• Keywords: Thimerosal; Propidium iodide

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative in some vaccines. The effect of thimerosal on human gastric cancer cells unknown. This study shows that cultured (SCM1), reduced cell viability concentration- and time-dependent manner. caused apoptosis as assessed by propidium iodide–stained caspase-3 activation. Although immunoblotting data revealed could activate the phosphorylation extracellular signal–regulated kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal protein p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK), only SB203580 (a MAPK inhibitor) partially prevented from apoptosis. also induced [Ca2+]i increases via Ca2+ influx space. However, pretreatment with (bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate)/AM, chelator, to prevent thimerosal-induced did not protect death. results suggest SCM1 cells, Ca2+-independent phosphorylating resulting