Apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by artesunate.
Artesunate (ART), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua, is an effective novel antimalarial drug. The present study investigated the apoptotic activity of artesunate in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) by means of nuclear staining, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry. The observations also indicated that artesunate induced apoptosis of HUVEC in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. A Western immunoblot analysis showed down-regulation of the bcl-2 protein and up-regulation of the bax protein in the artesunate-treated HUVEC. Ca2+ in cells was evaluated by fluorescent spectrophotometer using Fura 2-AM as probe. These results suggest that artesunate may be a potential apoptosis-inducing agent for endothelial cells.
Wu
Guo-Dong
GD
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, P.R. China.
Zhou
Hui-Jun
HJ
Wu
Xiu-Hua
XH
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D031172:Artemisia annua; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077332:Artesunate; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
D037621:Artemisinins; C494826:BAX protein, human; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000077332:Artesunate