Curcumin induces apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway in HT-29 cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of curcumin on release of cytochrome c and expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Bad, Bcl-xL, caspase-3, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and survivin of HT-29 cells.


METHODS
HT-29 cells were treated with curcumin (0 approximately 80 micromol/L) for 24 h. The release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and the apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bad, caspase-3, PARP, and survivin were determined by Western blot analysis and their mRNA expressions by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
Curcumin significantly induced the growth inhibition and apoptosis of HT-29 cells. A decrease in expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and survivin was observed after exposure to 10 approximately 80 micromol/L curcumin, while the levels of Bax and Bad increased in the curcumin-treated cells. Curcumin also induced the release of cytochrome c, the activation of caspase-3, and the cleavage of PARP in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that curcumin induced the HT-29 cell apoptosis possibly via the mitochondria-mediated pathway.
Wang
Jin-bo
JB
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
Qi
Li-li
LL
Zheng
Shui-di
SD
Wu
Tian-xing
TX
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000077022:Survivin; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000235:genetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3; D003474:Curcumin