title: Saikosaponin b2 induces differentiation without growth inhibition in cultured B16 melanoma cells.
abstract: Treatment with 5 microM of saikosaponin (SS) b2 for 30 days was found to induce differentiation of B16 melanoma cells, with potentiation of expressions of melanogenesis and tyrosinase. To explore the mechanism of this effect, we observed the cell growth, cell cycle and morphology, and found that SSb2 did not affect any of these parameters. That is, SSb2 induced the differentiation of B16 melanoma cells without growth inhibition or cytotoxicity under conditions of low dose and long-term treatment. Phorbol ester, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, markedly inhibited the expressions of melanogenesis and tyrosinase in both the control B16 melanoma cells and the long-term treated B16 melanoma cells. Down-regulation of the PKC activity may be involved in the effects of SSb2.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Science, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan. zong3961@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujikawa-Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odashima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012502:Sapogenins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D012502:Sapogenins; D012503:Saponins; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; C025759:saikosaponin D