Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of silencing sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) on the apoptosis of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells induced by resveratrol (Res),and to explore its mechanism of promoting apoptosis. Methods: The human ovarian cancer SKOC3 cells were cultured with different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 40.0 and 80.0 mg·L^-1) of Res for 24 h. The survival rate of cells was measured by MTT assay. The SKOV3 cells were randomly divided into control group,Sirt3 inhibitory 3-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine(3-TYP group, Res group and 3-TYP+Res group. After 24 h of culture, the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in various groups were detected by MTT assay; the nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33342, and the morphorgy nucleus was observed by laser confocal microscope; reactive oxygen species(ROS)probe was used to detect the intracellular ROS levels; Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of Sirt3, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in the cells in various groups. Results: The results of MTT assay showed that the survival rates of SKOV3 cells were significantly decreased with the increase of concentration of Res, and the median inhibitory concentration(IC₅₀)was 42.73 mg·L^-1. Compared with control group, the inhibitory rates of proliferation of cells in Res group and 3-TYP+Res group were significantly decreased (P<0.05);compared with Res group,the inhibitory rate of proliferation of the SKOV3 cells in 3-TYP +Res group was significantly inereased(P<0.01). Compared with control group, the nucleus of SKOV3 cells in 3-TYP+Res group showed pyknosis, enhanced staining and more nuclear fragmentation. Compared with control group, the red fluorescence of the SKOV3 cells in 3-TYP group had no significant change, and the red fluorescence of the SKOV3 cells in Res group and 3-TYP+Res group was significantly decreased. The results of Western blotting method showed that compared with control group,the expression level of Sirt3 protein in the cells in 3-TYP group was significantly decreased (P<0.05),and the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in the cells did not change significantly(P>0.05);the protein expression levels of Sirt3 and Bcl-2 proteins in Res group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the expression levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 proteins were significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with Res group, the expression levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in 3-TYP+Res group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Sirt3 proteins in 3-TYP+Res group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Res can induce the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells, and the inhibition of Sirt3 expression by 3-TYP can enhance the effect of Res.

Key words: 3-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl) pyridine, sirtuin 3, resveratrol, human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells, apoptosis