title: Critical role of the c-JunNH2-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways on sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in DU145 human prostate cancer cells.
abstract: Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is known to exhibit anti-cancer effects via the differentiation and apoptosis of various carcinoma cells. However, the mechanism by which NaBu induces apoptosis and the involvement of protein kinases during apoptosis is not completely understood. To investigate the underlying pathways, we performed cell culture experiments in androgen-independent human prostate cancer (DU145 cells) focusing on various protein kinases. NaBu causes concentration-dependent cell detachment and growth inhibition. Exposure of DU145 cells to NaBu for 24 h caused a strong apoptotic effect with 26% nuclear fragmentation and condensation. In addition, NaBu induced caspase-3 and poly-ADP ribose polymerase cleavage and up-regulation of bax, suggesting that mitochondrial damage is involved in NaBu-induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Interestingly, NaBu stimulated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation during apoptosis. Furthermore, NaBu up-regulated total protein levels and phospho forms of MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3) and MAPK kinase 4 (MKK4) as the upstream kinases of p38 MAPK and JNK independently of oxidative stress. Taken together, it is suggested that NaBu can be a promising chemopreventive agent for prostate cancer and the p38 MAPK and JNK pathways have critical roles in NaBu-induced apoptosis in DU145 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Dae
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Nam-Shik
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ji-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Se-Ran
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Joon-Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yong-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Jae-Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Junxuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lii
authors.forename: Kyung-Sun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases