Effects of survivin inhibitor YM155 on mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of retinoblastoma Y79 cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of survivin inhibitor YM155 {4,9-dihydro-1-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-methyl-4,9-dioxo-3-(2-pyrazinylmethyl)-4,9-dihydro-1H-naphtho2,3-d]imidazolium bromide} on the apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m) and cytochrome C (Cyt C) of retinoblastoma Y79 cells, and to analyze the mitochondrial mechanisms of apoptosis.METHODS: Y79 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with YM155 at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 nmol/L. The cells in control group were treated without YM155. The proliferation of Y79 cells were measured by CCK-8 assay and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling assay. Y79 cells were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group (with equal volume of RPMI-1640 nutrient medium), positive control group (10 nmol/L topotecan), low-dose (1 nmol/L) YM155 group and high-dose (2 nmol/L) YM155 group. The effects of YM155 on the apoptosis, the changes of Δψ_m, the mitochondrial distribution and the protein level of Cyt C in the Y79 cells were evaluated by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, JC-1 staining, immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with control group, YM155 significantly inhibited the proliferation of Y79 cells and induced apoptosis (P<0.05). YM155 significantly reduced Δψ_m of the Y79 cells, promoted Cyt C which released from mitochondria to the cytosol and reduced the protein level of Cyt C in the mitochondria (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: YM155 inhibits Y79 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, and the possible mechanisms may be involved in the mitochondrium-mediated apoptotic pathway.