Fisetin Inhibits Cell Proliferation through the Induction of G(0)/G(1) Phase Arrest and Caspase-3-Mediated Apoptosis in Mouse Leukemia Cells
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE
Authors: Tsai, Yu-Hsiang; Lin, Jen-Jyh; Ma, Yi-Shih; Peng, Shu-Fen; Huang, An-Cheng; Huang, Yi-Ping; Fan, Ming-Jen; Lien, Jin-Cherng; Chung, Jing-Gung
Abstract
Fisetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, is found in common fruits and vegetables and has been shown to induce cytotoxic effects in many human cancer cell lines. No information has shown that fisetin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in mouse leukemia WEHI-3 cells. We found that fisetin decreased total viable cells through G(0)/G(1) phase arrest and induced sub-G(1) phase (apoptosis). We have confirmed fisetin induced cell apoptosis by the formation of DNA fragmentation and induction of apoptotic cell death. Results indicated that fisetin induced intracellular Ca2+ increase but decreased the ROS production and the levels of Delta Psi m in WEHI-3 cells. Fisetin increased the activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Cells were pre-treated with inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 and then treated with fisetin and results showed increased viable cell number when compared to fisetin treated only. Fisetin reduced expressions of cdc25a but increased p-p53, Chk1, p21 and p27 that may lead to G(0)/G(1) phase arrest. Fisetin inhibited anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and increased pro-apoptotic protein Bax and Bak. Furthermore, fisetin increased the protein expression of cytochrome c and AIF. Fisetin decreased cell number through G(0)/G(1) phase arrest via the inhibition of cdc25c and induction of apoptosis through caspase-dependent and mitochondria-dependent pathways. Therefore, fisetin may be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for leukemia.
Digalloylresveratrol, a novel resveratrol analog inhibits the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells
INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUGS
Authors: Saiko, Philipp; Graser, Geraldine; Giessrigl, Benedikt; Steinmann, Marie-Therese; Schuster, Heike; Lackner, Andreas; Grusch, Michael; Krupitza, Georg; Jaeger, Walter; Somepalli, Venkateswarlu; Golakoti, Trimurtulu; Fritzer-Szekeres, Monika; Szekeres, Thomas
Abstract
Digalloylresveratrol (DIG) is a recently synthesized substance aimed to combine the effects of the natural polyphenolic compounds gallic acid and resveratrol, which both are excellent free radical scavengers with anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of DIG in the human AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Treatment with DIG dose-dependently attenuated cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and led to a significant depletion of the dATP pool in AsPC-1 cells. The incorporation of C-14-cytidine into nascent DNA of tumor cells was significantly inhibited at all DIG concentrations due to inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase, a key enzyme of DNA synthesis in tumor cells. Furthermore, Erk1/2 became inactivated and moderated p38 phosphorylation reflecting increased replication stress. DIG also activated ATM and Chk2, and induced the phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation of the proto-oncogene Cdc25A, which contributed to cell cycle attenuation. Taken together, DIG is an excellent free radical scavenger, strongly inhibits RR in situ activity, cell cycle progression, and colony formation in AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 cells thus warranting further investigations.