Sodium selenite induces apoptosis and inhibits autophagy in human synovial sarcoma cell line SW982 in vitro

The present study aimed to examine the effects of sodium selenite on the SW982 human synovial sarcoma cell line in relation to cell viability, apoptosis and autophagy. The results indicated that sodium selenite reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis by activating caspase-3 and members of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and Bcl-2 protein families in SW982 cells. Furthermore, autophagy was also suppressed by sodium selenite treatment in SW982 cells, and apoptosis was upregulated in cells co-treated with sodium selenite and the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. By contrast, apoptosis was downregulated when sodium selenite was combined with rapamycin, an inducer of autophagy. The results indicated that autophagy may protect cells from the cytotoxicity of sodium selenite. The present study results demonstrated that sodium selenite induced apoptosis and inhibited autophagy and autophagy-protected cells from death by antagonizing sodium selenite-induced apoptosis in SW982 cells in vitro.