title: Seleno-podophyllotoxin derivatives induce hepatoma SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis through Bax pathway.
abstract: Podophyllotoxin is a well known anti-tumor chemical, but because of its strong side effects much effort has been paid to reduce cytotoxicity by modifying its structure. Here, we evaluate the anti-tumor activity of a new isolated derivative of podophyllotoxin, 4'-demethyl-4-dehydroxy-4-seleno-phenyl-beta-peltatin-epipodophyllotoxin (CPZ) and find that CPZ can suppress the proliferation of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Phase-contrast microscope observation and flow cytometric analysis through PI stains showed that the reagents have strong inhibition of SMMC-7721 cell growth, as the cells were blocked in the G2/M period. Cell apoptosis induced by CPZ was further confirmed by staining with M30 Cytodeath antibody. Rh123 label testing revealed that the mitochondrial membrane potential had been decreased by CPZ treatment. Under the stress of CPZ, cytochrome c was secreted into the cytoplasm by mitochondria, and Bax in cytoplasm was translocated into the mitochondrial membrane. These results suggest that CPZ-induced apoptosis may work through a Bax-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruidong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lizhe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D005047:Etoposide; D045304:Cytochromes c; D011034:Podophyllotoxin