title: Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase during ent-11alpha-hydroxy-16-kauren-15-one-induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells.
abstract: Kaurene-type diterpenes possess various biological activities including antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. Indeed, we have found that an ent-kaurene diterpene, ent-11alpha-hydroxy-16-kauren-15-one (KD), induced apoptosis via caspase-8 activation in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. However, the mechanism of caspase-8 activation by KD is not clear. In this study, we investigated the involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 (MAPK)) in KD-induced apoptosis. p38 (MAPK) was activated by treatment with KD parallel to DNA ladder formation. Pretreatment with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 (MAPK), attenuated induction of apoptosis by KD and inhibited activation of caspase-8. Cleavage of Bid, a typical substrate of caspase-8, was also inhibited by treatment with SB203580, suggesting that activation of p38 (MAPK) occurs upstream of caspase-8 during KD-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan. masuo@ac.shoyaku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: Ikue
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asakawa
authors.forename: Yoshiteru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D037602:Isodon; D008934:Mitogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane; D008934:Mitogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases