Association of cellular apoptosis with anti-tumor effects of the Chinese herbal complex in endocrine-resistant cancer cell line.
We previously reported the special herbal complex (Hoelen, Angelicae radix, Scutellariae radix and Glycyrrhizae radix) suppressed telomerase activity in chemo-endocrine-resistant cancer cell lines. The present study attempted to determine whether the above herbal complex induces apoptosis in endocrine-resistant AN3CA and adriamycin-resistant MCF7/ADR carcinoma cells. Exposure to the herbal complex decreased cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner in the 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The agent induced cellular apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation and a nuclear staining assay. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed the decreased expression of apoptosis-related genes, bcl-2, c-myc and human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT). A decreased protein level of bcl-2 and c-myc was also determined by Western blot analysis. The data imply that the decreased expression of the genes via suppressing telomerase activity is involved in cellular apoptosis in endocrine-resistant AN3CA cells. Thus, it is suggested that the special herbal complex may be a promising candidate for the treatment of endocrine-resistant gynecologic carcinomas.
Lian
Zenglin
Z
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasa-machi, Gifu City, 500-8705, Japan.
Niwa
Kenji
K
Gao
Jingchun
J
Tagami
Keiko
K
Mori
Hideki
H
Tamaya
Teruhiko
T
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D004317:Doxorubicin; D019098:Telomerase