Triptolide-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death Accelerated by Metformin Co-Treatment in MiaPaca-2 Cells

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death worldwide with limited therapeutic potential and low survival rate. A natural agent; triptolide (diterpenoid triepoxide), induce cell viability loss, growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death in various cancer cells such as breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Metformin, a common therapeutic agent for type II Diabetes mellitus, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in pancreatic cancer via modulating various pathways such as PI3K/Akt pathways. In this study, our aim was to investigate the potential additional effect of metformin on triptolide-induced apoptotic cell death in MiaPaCa-2 cells. Drugs-mediated cell viability loss, growth inhibition and colony formation potential were examined by MTT, trypan blue exclusion, colony formation, hanging drop assays. Drugs triggered apoptotic cell death was determined by PI FACS flow analysis. According to MTT cell viability assay, 20 nM triptolide decreased cell viability by 78%, but triptolide and metformin co-treatment decreased cell viability by 57%. Metformin co-treatment increased the triptolide-mediated cell growth inhibition, and prevention of colony formation in MiaPaCa-2 cells. In addition, co-treatment increased triptolide-triggered mitochondrial membrane potential loss, cell death and ROS generation. In conclusion, metformin co-treatment accelerated triptolide-triggered apoptotic cell death in MiaPaCa-2 cells.