Baicalein induces a dual growth arrest by modulating multiple cell cycle regulatory molecules.
Baicalein, a flavonoid present in the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been reported to inhibit cell proliferation in several types of cells. In this study, the effect of baicalein on cell growth and the mechanism of growth modulation were examined in primary cultured rat heart endothelial cells. Here, we report that treatment with 100-microM baicalein caused an almost complete inhibition of cell proliferation after 5 days of incubation. Baicalein mediated G1 and G2 growth arrest accompanied by the down-regulation of cyclin D2, cyclin A, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2), and up-regulation of p15(Ink4B), p21(CIP1/Waf1), p53 and cyclin E. Evaluation of the kinase activity of cyclin-Cdk complexes showed that baicalein decreased Cdk1, Cdk2, cyclin D2 and cyclin A expression in endothelial cells, leading to markedly reduced Cdk/cyclin-associated kinase activities. These results suggest that baicalein inhibits the proliferation of rat heart endothelial cells via G1 and G2 arrest in association with the down-regulation of the expression and function of Cdk1, Cdk2, cyclin D2 and cyclin A proteins, and up-regulation of cyclin E, p15(Ink4B), p53 and p21(CIP1/Waf1).
Hsu
S L
SL
Department of Education and Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Section 3, Chung-Gang Road, 407, Taichung, Taiwan. h2326@vghtc.gov.tw
Hsieh
Y C
YC
Hsieh
W C
WC
Chou
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D056742:Cyclin D2; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D044950:Flavanones; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D000975:Antioxidants; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C486197:Ccnd2 protein, rat; C493958:Cdkn1a protein, rat; C493962:Cdkn1b protein, rat; C493969:Cdkn2b protein, rat; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019925:Cyclin A; D056742:Cyclin D2; D019927:Cyclin E; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D044950:Flavanones; D005419:Flavonoids; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; C006680:baicalein; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; C495892:Cdk2 protein, rat; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases