title: Induction of G2/M arrest and apoptosis by sesquiterpene lactones in human melanoma cell lines.
abstract: Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor which frequently resists chemotherapy, therefore, the search for new agents for its treatment is of great importance. In this study, we purified the sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), Tomentosin and Inuviscolide from Inula viscosa (Compositae) leaves and studied their anti-cancer potency against human melanoma cell lines in order to develop new agents for melanoma treatment. SLs inhibited the proliferation of three human melanoma cell lines: SK-28, 624 mel and 1363 mel in a dose-dependent manner. We further investigated SLs mechanism of action using SK-28 as a representative cell line model. SLs caused cell-cycle arrest at G(2)/M, accompanied by the appearance of a sub-G0 fraction, indicative of apoptotic cell death. Induction of apoptosis was further confirmed by changes in membrane phospholipids, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi) and by detection of Caspase-3 activity. Rapid inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc2 (Thr14 and Tyr15) was seen early after treatment, followed by a later decrease in the expression level of both Cyclin b1 and Cdc2. Induction of p53 and p21(waf1) proteins and phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15 were also detected early after treatment. The anti-apoptotic proteins, p65 subunit of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and Survivin were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these changes partially explain the ability of the SLs to induce G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis. Induction of apoptosis by Tomentosin and Inuviscolide in human aggressive melanoma cell lines has high pharmacological value and implies that SLs might be developed as new agents for melanoma treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozenblat
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Margalit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: Yigal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dovrat
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D038143:Inula; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C458886:inuviscolide; C454646:tomentosin; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D053148:Caspase 3