Abstract
Allium vegetables such as garlic (Allium sativum L.) are rich in organosulfur compounds that prevent human chronic diseases, including cancer. Of these, diallyl trisulfide (DATS) exhibits anticancer effects against a variety of tumors, including malignant melanoma. Although previous studies have shown that DATS increases intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in different cancer cell types, the role of Ca2+ in the anticancer effect is obscure. In the present study, we investigated the Ca2+ pathways involved in the anti-melanoma effect. We used melittin, the bee venom that can activate a store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and apoptosis, as a reference. DATS increased apoptosis in human melanoma cell lines in a Ca2+-dependent manner. It also induced mitochondrial Ca2+ (Ca2+mit) overload through intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ fluxes independently of SOCE. Strikingly, acidification augmented Ca2+mit overload, and Ca2+ channel blockers reduced the effect more significantly under acidic pH conditions. On the contrary, acidification mitigated SOCE and Ca2+mit overload caused by melittin. Finally, Ca2+ channel blockers entirely inhibited the anti-melanoma effect of DATS. Our findings suggest that DATS explicitly evokes Ca2+mit overload via a non-SOCE, thereby displaying the anti-melanoma effect.