title: AMPK mediates curcumin-induced cell death in CaOV3 ovarian cancer cells.
abstract: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinase, serves as an energy sensor in all eukaryotic cells. Recent findings suggest that AMPK activation strongly suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Our study demonstrated that chemopreventive agent curcumin strongly activates AMPK in a p38-dependent manner in CaOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Pretreatment of cells with compound C (AMPK inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) attenuates curcumin-induced cell death. We also observed that curcumin induces p53 phosphorylation (Ser 15) and both compound C and SB203580 pretreatment inhibit p53 phosphorylation. Collectively, our data suggest that AMPK is a new molecular target of curcumin and AMPK activation partially contributes to the cytotoxic effect of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Providence College, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xiuzu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kivlin
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: Yinsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D003474:Curcumin