Esomeprazole improves the acidic microenvironment of epithelial ovarian cancer by inhibiting the expression of V-ATPase

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of esomeprazole on apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells and their sensitivity to paclitaxel, and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Human ovarian paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells were cultured in vitro, and treated with esomeprazole at doses of 50, 100 and 250 mol/L. Cell proliferation was determined using MTT assay. Paclitaxel-resistant cells were divided into control group, esomeprazole group, paclitaxel group, and esomeprazole + taxol group. Western blot was employed for the assay of protein levels of bcl-2, Bcl-xl, P-gp and V-ATPase, while BCECF-AM method was employed to determine changes in intracellular pH. Results: Esomeprazole significantly inhibited the proliferation of paclitaxel-resistant cells in a dose-dependent manner. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of esomeprazole + paclitaxel was significantly low, when compared with those of the other treatments (p < 0.05). Apoptosis was significantly higher in esomeprazole + paclitaxel group than in any other treatment group (p < 0.05). The expressions of Bcl-2 and P-gp in esomeprazole + paclitaxel group decreased significantly, relative to the corresponding values for other groups, while protein expression of bcl-xl was markedly increased. The intracellular pH value of esomeprazole + paclitaxel group was significantly lower than those for other treatment groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Esomeprazole improves the acidic microenvironment of epithelial ovarian cancer by inhibiting the expression of V-ATPase, and restores the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel by inhibiting their proliferation and apoptosis. This revelation may explain patients’ resistance to paclitaxel.