Expression of Mitochondrial Transcripts in Gastric MGC803 Cell Line Subjected by Hypoxia

OBJECTIVE To determine the transcriptional expression of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) in MGC803 cell lines subjected by various time-phase hypoxic dispositions, and further to discuss the influence of mtDNA transcripts on hypoxic resistance to irradiation. METHODS The MGC803 cells exposed to anoxic environment were divided into control group (0 h), hypoxic group (2 h, 8 h, 16 h, 24 h) and irradiated group after exposing the hypoxia. RT-PCR was applied to detect the transcripts of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4), ND5, cytochrome b (cyt-b) and ATPase6 (ATP-6) in MGC803 cell lines at various time-phases of hypoxic, and after X-ray irradiation. Flow cytometry and colony formation assay were conducted to evaluate the cell cycle phase and survival fraction. RESULTS COI and ND4 transcripts of MGC803 cell lines were influenced remarkably by hypoxia. COI transcripts were decreased remarkably with the elongation time of exposing the hypoxic, and reduced to one fourth of its original amount of pre-hypoxia 24 h after exposing the hypoxia. ND4 transcripts were increased initially, and elevated to two folds 8 h after exposing the hypoxia, and then reduced to one second 24 h after exposing the hypoxia. Hypoxia resulted in G1 phase blockage, especially after hypoxia for 16 h. The survival fraction of MGC803 cells exposing the hypoxia in irradiated group showed that as the time of exposing the hypoxic before irradiation is prolonged, the survival fraction of MGC803 cells may have an elevated tendency. CONCLUSION The tumor cells with lower expression levels of the COI and the ND4 after exposing the hypoxic have stronger resistance to the radiation, which indicates that increasing the expression levels of the COI and the ND4 might be advantageous to enhance the sensitivity of hypoxic tumor cells to the radiotherapy.