Combined effects of resveratrol and radiation in GH3 and TtT/GF pituitary adenoma cells

ObjectiveResveratrol and radiation decrease viability in various tumor cells. This study aims to investigate combined effects of resveratrol and radiation on viability, induction of apoptosis and necrosis, and expression of apoptosis modulators in rodent GH3 and TtT/GF pituitary adenoma cells in vitro.MethodsCells were incubated with 10-100 mu M resveratrol. Medium and medium with ethanol served as controls. After 2h, cells were irradiated with 0-5 Gray (Gy) and further incubated for 48-72h. Cell viability was quantified using a hemocytometer. Cell death was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that detects free nucleosomes in cell lysates and free nucleosomes released to the culture medium. Expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 protein (BCL-2) and BCL-2 associated Xprotein (BAX) was measured using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to analyze changes in BAX/BCL-2 ratio.ResultsResveratrol and irradiation with 4 Gy alone and in combination significantly decreased cell viability (p = 0.017 and less). In the ELISA, 10 M resveratrol significantly induced apoptosis in TtT/GF cells at 0 Gy (p < 0.001), but not at 3 or 5 Gy. In the ELISA, 10 M resveratrol significantly induced necrosis in GH3 cells at 0, 3 and 5 Gy (p < 0.001). While qRT-PCR did not demonstrate a significant effect of 10 mu M resveratrol or radiation on expression of BAX or BCL-2, a significant increase in the BAX/BCL-2 ratio was found after irradiation with 5 Gy in GH3 cells (p = 0.0027).ConclusionWhile moderate irradiation solely led to inhibited proliferation, resveratrol induced cell death in rodent pituitary adenoma cells.