title: Molecular mechanisms of ginsenoside Rh2-mediated G1 growth arrest and apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.
abstract: Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), a purified ginseng saponin, has been shown to have antiproliferative effects in certain cancer cell types. However, the molecular mechanisms of Rh2 on cell growth and death have not been fully clarified. In this study, the antiproliferative effect of Rh2 in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells was investigated. Treatment of A549 cells with 30 mug/ml Rh2 resulted in G(1) phase arrest, followed by progression to apoptosis. This Rh2-mediated G(1) arrest was accompanied by downregulation of the protein levels and kinase activities of cyclin-D1, cyclin-E and Cdk6, and the upregulation of pRb2/p130. In addition, Rh2-induced apoptosis was confirmed by TUNEL assay and DNA fragmentation analysis. Administration of Rh2 caused an increase in the expression levels of TRAIL-RI (DR4) death receptor but did not alter the levels of other death receptors or Bcl-2 family molecules. Furthermore, the Rh2-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited by DR4:Fc fusion protein, which inhibits TRAIL-DR4-mediated apoptosis. In addition, caspase-2, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were highly activated upon Rh2 treatment. Inhibitors of caspase-2, caspase-3 and caspase-8 markedly prevented the cell death induced by Rh2. Inhibitor of caspase-8 significantly inhibited the activation of caspase-2, caspase-3 and caspase-8. These observations indicate that multiple G(1)-related cell cycle regulatory proteins are regulated by Rh2 and contribute to Rh2-induced G(1) growth arrest. The increase in the expression level of DR4 death receptor may play a critical role in the initiation of Rh2-triggered apoptosis, and the activation of the caspase-8/caspase-3 cascade acts as the executioner of the Rh2-induced death process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, 407, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chi-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jung-Chou
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Mao
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shih-Lan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D036145:Ginsenosides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C105190:TNFRSF10A protein, human; C055305:ginsenoside Rh2; D020169:Caspases