External Qi of Yan Xin Qigong induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells by inhibiting Akt and NF-kappa B pathways.
Long-term clinical observations and ongoing studies have shown antitumor effects of external Qi of Yan Xin Qigong (YXQG-EQ) that originated from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of YXQG-EQ, we investigate the effects of YXQG-EQ on growth and apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells. We found that exposure to YXQG-EQ led to G2/M arrest associated with reduced cyclin B1 expression and apoptosis in PC3 cells. YXQG-EQ treatment inhibited constitutive and epidermal growth factor-induced Akt phosphorylation, basal and TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation, and downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. In contrast, exposure to YXQG-EQ increased phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and had no cytotoxic effect on either HUVEC or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). These results indicate that YXQG-EQ has profound effects on growth and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by targeting survival pathways including the Akt and NF-kappa B pathways.
Yan
Xin
X
Institute of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China.
Shen
Hua
H
Jiang
Hongjian
H
Zhang
Chengsheng
C
Hu
Dan
D
Wang
Jun
J
Wu
Xinqi
X
D000728:Androgens; D017209:Apoptosis; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016195:G2 Phase; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000235:genetics
D000728:Androgens; D016328:NF-kappa B; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases