Silymarin causes caspases activation and apoptosis in K562 leukemia cells through inactivation of Akt pathway.
Cancer is one of the largest causes of death in both men and women. Akt, overexpressed in a number of human malignancies including leukemia, is an important target in cancer prevention and/or therapy. Silymarin, a flavonoid antioxidant, has high human acceptance being used clinically for the treatment of liver diseases. In this study, Akt activity was inhibited by silymarin without changes in total Akt level associated with a prominent caspases-9 and -3 activation as well as PARP cleavage, accompanied by a strong apoptotic death and growth inhibition of K562 cells. These findings suggest that silymarin could serve as a candidate for anti-leukemia drug.
Zhong
Xian
X
Cancer Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Zhu
Yongliang
Y
Lu
Qinghua
Q
Zhang
Jiawei
J
Ge
Zhen
Z
Zheng
Shu
S
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012838:Silymarin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020169:Caspases