title: Sanguinarine sensitizes human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis via down-regulation of AKT and activation of caspase-3.
abstract: Sanguinarine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, derived from the root of Sanguinaria canadensis and other poppy Fumaria species, which is known to have antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is known to induce apoptosis in cancer cells but spare most normal cells. However, its effects are limited in some types of cancer cells, including AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. In the present study, we showed that treatment with TRAIL in combination with subtoxic concentrations of sanguinarine sensitized TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in AGS cells. Combined treatment with sanguinarine and TRAIL effectively induced Bid cleavage and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to the activation of caspases, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and beta-catenin. The cytotoxic effects of the combined treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrates the important role of caspase-3 in the observed cytotoxic effect. In addition, the levels of Akt protein were markedly reduced in cells co-treated with sanguinarine and TRAIL. Apoptosis induced by the combined treatment was markedly increased by the phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase inhibitor, LY294002 (Akt-upstream inhibitor), through the mitochondrial amplification step and caspase activation, suggesting that interactions of the synergistic effect were at least partially mediated through the Akt-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine, Yangjung-Dong, Busanjin-Gu, Busan 614-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Cheng-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nam Deuk
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se-Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein; C494814:BID protein, human; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D007546:Isoquinolines; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D051176:beta Catenin; C005705:sanguinarine; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053148:Caspase 3; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases