Allyl isothiocyanate induces DNA damage and inhibits DNA repair‐associated proteins in a human gastric cancer cells in vitro

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is abundant in cruciferous vegetables and it present pharmacological activity including anticancer activity in many types of human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Currently, no available information to show AITC affecting DNA damage and repair‐associated protein expression in human gastric cancer cells. Therefore, in the present studies, we investigated AITC‐induced cytotoxic effects on human gastric cancer in AGS and SNU‐1 cells whether or not via the induction of DNA damage and affected DNA damage and repair associated poteins expressions in vitro. Cell viability and morphological changes were assayed by flow cytometer and phase contrast microscopy, respectively, the results indicated AITC induced cell morphological changes and decreased total viable cells in AGS and SNU‐1 cells in a dose‐dependently. AITC induced DNA condensation and damage in a dose‐dependently which based on the cell nuclei was stained by 4′, 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole present in AGS and SNU‐1 cells. DNA damage and repair associated proteins expression in AGS and SNU‐1 cells were measured by Western blotting. The results indicated AITC decreased nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), glutathione, and catalase, but increased superoxide dismutase (SOD (Cu/Zn)), and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in AGS cells, however, in SNU‐1 cells are increased HO‐1. AITC increased DNA‐dependent protein kinase (DNA‐PK), phosphorylation of gamma H2A histone family member X on Ser139 (γH2AXpSer139), and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in AGS cells. AITC increased DNA‐PK, mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1 (MDC1), γH2AXpSer139, topoisomerase II alpha (TOPIIα), topoisomerase II beta (TOPIIβ), HSP90, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in SNU‐1 cells. AITC increased p53, p53pSer15, and p21 but decreased murine double minute 2 (MDM2)pSer166 and O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in AGS cells; however, it has a similar effect of AITC except increased ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3‐related protein (ATR)pSer428, checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1), and checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) in SNU‐1 cells. Apparently, both cell responses to AITC are different, nonetheless, all of these observations suggest that AITC inhibits the growth of gastric cancer cells may through induction off DNA damage in vitro.