Fas-mediated apoptosis is enhanced by glycyrrhizin without alteration of caspase-3-like activity.
We demonstrate that glycyrrhizin (GL) enhanced Fas-mediated apoptotic body formation and DNA fragmentation in T cell lines although GL alone did not induce apoptosis. The enhancement effect of Fas-mediated apoptosis by GL was dose-dependent above 0.3 microM. Time course study revealed that simultaneous co-treatment of GL and anti-Fas antibody was crucial for the enhancement of apoptosis and pretreatment with GL was not effective. Anti-Fas antibody elicited caspase-3-like activity. However caspase-3-like activity with co-treatment of GL and anti-Fas antibody was the same level as the antibody alone. Glycyrrhetic acid, the aglycon of GL, did not enhance Fas-mediated apoptosis. The amphipathic property of GL might enable it to interact with the plasma membrane and lead to the enhancement of apoptosis.
Ishiwata
S
S
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.
Nakashita
K
K
Ozawa
Y
Y
Niizeki
M
M
Nozaki
S
S
Tomioka
Y
Y
Mizugaki
M
M
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019014:fas Receptor; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases