Effect of trichostatin A on biological characteristics of side population cells of cervical cancer cell line (HeLa)

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of trichostatin A (TSA) on biological characteristics of side population (SP) cells of cervical cancer cell line (HeLa)Methods: Side population (SP) and NSP cells were obtained from 6th generation of primary cervical cancer cells and cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Cell surface markers (ATP-binding membrane transporter superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), CD133, CD43, p63, Ki67, multidrug resistance (MDR) as well as cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis, were determined. SP cells in HeLa were divided into 3 groups that received TSA at doses of 0.01, 0.05, and 0.2 μM. Untreated cells served as control. Cell growth inhibition rates of different dose groups were compared. SP cells in HeLa were divided into simple irradiation group and combined irradiation group TSA (10 % inhibition concentration (IC10) + irradiation, and values of SP cell survival fraction (SF) of the two groups under different irradiation conditions were compared.Results: The content of SP in HeLa cell line was significantly higher than in cervical cancer tissue (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in expression levels of ABCG2, CD133, CD43, p63, Ki67, and MDR, as well as G0/G1, S, and G2/M phase distributions and apoptosis rate between HeLa cell line and cervical cancer tissue (p > 0.05). On the 3rd, 5th, and 7th day, SF value of SP cells was significantly higher in NSP cells (p > 0.05). With increasing concentration of TSA, SF value of NSP cells gradually decreased, while that of SP cells did not change significantly.Conclusion: Cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) contains SP cells which have biological characteristics of tumor stem cells. Moreover, TSA exerts good cytotoxicity and radio-sensitization effect on SP cells.