Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of sodium citrate of different concentrations on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian carcinoma cells. Methods Ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 was divided into the blank control group and sodium citrate groups, which were treated by citrate sodium of 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 mmol/L for 12, 24, and 48 h. The cell proliferation was detected by the MTT and the inhibition rate of cell proliferation and formation rate of cell clone were calculated. The expressions of apoptosis related proteins PARP and Procasease-3 and autophagy related proteins LC3 and p62 were detected by the Western blotting. Results Compared to the blank control group, the cell viability and formation rate of cell clone of the sodium citrate groups significantly decreased and were concentration and time dependent (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that compared to the blank control group, the expressions of PARP and Procasease-3 in SKOV3 of the sodium citrate group treated by sodium citrate of 5 and 10 mmol/L increased; the expression of LC3 up-regulated, and the expression of p62 downregulated. Conclusion Sodium citrate can efficiently inhibit the proliferation of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and induce the apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. The effect increases with the time and concentration of sodium citrate. Besides, sodium citrate can also induce the autophagy of SKOV3 cells.

Key words: sodium citrate, ovarian carcinoma, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, autophagy