title: Protection of T cells from radiation-induced apoptosis by Cepharanthin.
abstract: Cepharanthin (CE) is a medicine that contains several biscoclaurine alkaloids. We examined the effects of CE on radiation-induced T cell apoptosis. Radiation induced apoptosis on T cells in a dose-dependent manner, while CE inhibited radiation-induced apoptosis. CE also attenuated the cytotoxic effects of radiation on the proliferative response of T cells. CE inhibited not only the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential but also the activation of caspase 3 in irradiated T cells. Radiation plus CE induced the up-regulation of Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2 in T cells in comparison with radiation alone. These results suggest that CE inhibits the signal transduction pathway of apoptosis induced by radiation, regardless of the expression of Bcl-2 or Bax.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi City, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oyaizu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasumizu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikebukuro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikehara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D052117:Benzodioxoles
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C494826:BAX protein, human; C455110:berbamine, cepharanthine, cycleanine, isotetrandrine drug combination; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C027870:berbamine