title: Mitochondrial-dependent caspase activation pathway is involved in baicalein-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma J5 cells.
abstract: Baicalein has been reported to induce growth-inhibitory activity in vitro in human cancer cells; however, the molecular mechanism of action is not completely understood. A pharmacological dose (10-100 microM) of baicalein exerted a cytotoxic effect on human hepatoma J5 cells resulting in G2/M arrest and apoptosis. In addition to cytotoxicity in J5 cells, several apoptotic events including mitochondrial cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-9 and -3 occurred. Baicalein induced AIF and Endo G release from mitochondria indicating that baicalein stimulates apoptosis through the caspase-independent pathway, while undergoing apoptosis, there was a remarkable accumulation of G2/M cells. Also, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased leading to changes in mitochondria membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and release of cytochrome c, whereas the baicalein-induced apoptosis was partially abrogated by pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, the accumulation of G2/M cells remained. These results demonstrate that the cytotoxicity of baicalein in J5 cells is attributable to apoptosis mainly involving G2/M-arrest in an ER-dependent manner, via a mitochondria-dependent caspase pathway and as well as contributions of AIF and Endo G pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Maan
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Hung-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jai-Sing
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: An-Cheng
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mei-Due
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shu-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Meng-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gibson Wood
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494829:AIFM1 protein, human; D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; C494826:BAX protein, human; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D044950:Flavanones; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; C006680:baicalein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C052391:endonuclease G; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D002118:Calcium