Role of p38 MAPK signaling pathway in apoptosis of colon cancer cell line SW620 induced by irinotecan

Objective To investigate the changes and mechanism of p38MAPK signaling pathway in the apoptosis of colon cancer cell line SW620 induced by irinotecan. Methods MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the proliferation,inhibition and apoptosis of SW620 cells with different concentrations (20 μmol/L,40 μmol/L,80 μmol/L) of irinotecan.The effect of irinotecan on cell p38 activity was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The changes of p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the apoptosis of SW620 cells induced by irinotecan were analyzed by using p38 inhibitor and siRNA transfection technology. Results Irinotecan inhibited the growth and proliferation of SW620 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner.The proliferation rate of SW620 cells decreased over time (P<0.05) and with concentration increasing (P<0.05).The total apoptotic rate of SW620 cells induced by 20μmol/L irinotecan group had no significant difference with that of the control group (P>0.05),but was significantly less than that of the 40μmol/L group and the 80μmol/L group (P<0.05,respectively).The activation of p38 in SW620 cells treated with 80μmol/L irinotecan was relatively slow,it peaked at 12 h,and then slowly weakened.The apoptosis rate of SW620 cells induced by 80μmol/L of irinotecan was significantly higher than that in SB203580 group and p38 siRNA group (P<0.05,respectively). Conclusion The p38 MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the apoptosis of SW620 cells induced by irinotecan,and its effect is related to p38 activity.