Evodiamine induces tumor cell death through different pathways: apoptosis and necrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the different death pathways in human cervical cancer HeLa and melanoma A375-S2 cells initiated by evodiamine.


METHODS
Viability of evodiamine-induced HeLa and A375-S2 cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptotic cells with condensed or fragmented nuclei were visualized by Hoechst 33258 staining. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Proportion of cell death through apoptotic and necrotic pathways was determined by LDH activity-based cytotoxicity assays. Cell cycle distribution was observed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Evodiamine induced HeLa and A375-S2 cell death dose- and time-dependently. Caspase-3 and -8 were activated in apoptosis induced by evodiamine 15 micromol/L. However, over 24-h incubation of A375-S2 cells, evodiamine 15 micromol/L initiated necrosis related to p38 and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinases) activities. Evodiamine-induced HeLa cell death was preceded by an accumulation of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, but there was no significant effect of evodiamine on A375-S2 cell cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
Evodiamine induces caspase-3,8-dependent apoptosis in HeLa cells which is related to G2/M arrest of the cell cycle. On the other hand, in A375-S2 cells, evodiamine initiates caspase-3,8-mediated apoptosis at early stages and the induction of MAPK-mediated necrosis at later stages of cell culture.
Zhang
Ying
Y
China-Japan Research Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
Wu
Li-Jun
LJ
Tashiro
Shin-Ichi
S
Onodera
Satoshi
S
Ikejima
Takashi
T
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D032086:Evodia / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009336:Necrosis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D010936:Plant Extracts; D011799:Quinazolines; C049639:evodiamine; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases