title: Induction of apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells by phloretin.
abstract: Phloretin, which is present in apples and pears, has been found to inhibit the growth of several cancer cells and induce apoptosis of B16 melanoma and HL60 human leukemia cells. The present study examined whether and how phloretin induces apoptosis of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Phloretin (0-100 micromol/L) substantially decreased viable cell number and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis of total cell lysates revealed that phloretin increased the protein levels of Bax but had no effect on Bcl-2. In addition, phloretin induced cleavage of caspase-8, -9, -7, and -3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Furthermore, phloretin increased the levels of cytochrome c and Smac/Diablo in the cytosol. The present results indicate that phloretin inhibits HT-29 cell growth by inducing apoptosis, which may be mediated through changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability and activation of the caspase pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Ji
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Myung Sunny
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Surh
authors.forename: Jung Han Yoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010693:Phloretin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D020169:Caspases; D010693:Phloretin