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.
Chang
Hee Jung
HJ
Chonnam University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju 501-190, Korea.
Yoon
Goo
G
Park
Jung Sun
JS
Kim
Mi Ha
MH
Baek
Min Kyung
MK
Kim
Nam Ho
NH
Shin
Boo Ahn
BA
Ahn
Bong Whan
BW
Cheon
Seung Hoon
SH
Jung
Young Do
YD
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