title: Induction of apoptosis by Meretrix lusoria through reactive oxygen species production, glutathione depletion, and caspase activation in human leukemia cells.
abstract: Apoptosis-induced directed fractionation and purification was used to identify the bioactive components of hard clams (HC), Meretrix lusoria. Two stereoisomers of epidioxysterol were previously identified as the active compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction (HC-EA). The molecular mechanism of HC-EA-induced apoptosis was also investigated in this study. Dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol, and subsequent induction of pro-caspase-9 and -3 processing preceded apoptosis in HL-60 cells, confirmed by DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, changes in the cell membrane and the appearance of a sub-G1 DNA peak. Furthermore, treatment with HC-EA caused a rapid loss of intracellular glutathione content and stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants such as catalase, N-acetylcysteine, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, and superoxide dismutase, but not allopurinol and diphenylene iodonium, significantly inhibited HC-EA-induced cell death. Apoptosis was completely prevented by a pan-caspase inhibitor, z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD-FMK). The induction of apoptosis by M. lusoria may prove to be a pivotal mechanism for its cancer chemopreventive action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung Marine University, No. 142, Hai-Chuan Rd, Nan-Tzu, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. mhpan@mail.nkmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Min-Hsiung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chi-Tang
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chi-I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ping-Chi
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun Pan
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012997:Solvents; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012997:Solvents; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D019014:fas Receptor; C007650:ethyl acetate; D020169:Caspases; D005978:Glutathione