Induction of apoptosis by the licochalcone E in endothelial cells via modulation of NF-kappaB and Bcl-2 Family.
Licochalcones have a variety of biological properties including anti-tumor, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial activities. Recently, a new retrochalcone (licochalcone E, Lico-E) was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata (Chem. Pharm. Bull., 53, 2005, Yoon et al.) by cytotoxicity-guided fractionation. This study examined whether or not Lico-E-induced endothelial cell death occurs through apoptosis, and investigated molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Lico-E was found to suppress ECV304 cell growth and induce apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis by Lico-E was confirmed by the ladder-patterned DNA fragmentation, the presence of cleaved and condensed nuclear chromatin and the increased number of annexin V-positive cells. Lico-E could effectively inhibit the constitutive NF-kappaB activation, as revealed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay and NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase reporter study. In addition, the Lico-E treatment caused a change in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio that favored apoptosis. These results suggest that Lico-E induces endothelial cell apoptosis by modulating NF-kappaB and the Bcl-2 family.
Chonnam University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju 501-190, Korea.
Hee Jung
HJ
Chang
Goo
G
Yoon
Jung Sun
JS
Park
Mi Ha
MH
Kim
Min Kyung
MK
Baek
Nam Ho
NH
Kim
Boo Ahn
BA
Shin
Bong Whan
BW
Ahn
Seung Hoon
SH
Cheon
Young Do
YD
Jung
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D047188:Chalcones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D047188:Chalcones; D016328:NF-kappa B; C520147:licochalcone E; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride