title: Tanshinone IIA inhibits constitutive STAT3 activation, suppresses proliferation, and induces apoptosis in rat C6 glioma cells.
abstract: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is usually constitutively activated in a variety of malignancies. Thus, STAT3 may be a promising target for treatment of tumor cells. Recently, Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), a major active constituent from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, was reported to have apoptosis inducing effects on a large variety of cancer cells. In this study, we evaluate the anti-proliferation and apoptosis inducing effects of Tan IIA on C6 glioma cells. Cell growth and proliferation were measured by MTT assay, cell apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry and DNA-fragmentation analysis. Further more, we investigated inhibitory effects of Tan IIA on STAT3 activity and its downstream targets: Bcl-XL, cyclin D1. Alteration of STAT3 activity was examined by measuring their DNA binding activity and tyrosine phosphorylation. Changes in the expression levels of Bcl-XL and cyclin D1 were examined by Western blot analysis. We found that the cellular growth were inhibited and cell apoptosis were observed after the treatment with Tan IIA. The STAT3 activity was significantly reduced by Tan IIA parallel with a significant attenuation of expression of Bcl-XL and cyclin D1. These results suggest that Tan IIA may serve as an effective adjunctive reagent in the treatment of glioma for its targeting of constitutive STAT3 signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shen Yang 110016, Liaoning Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hong-li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Hai-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao-gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494813:Bcl2l1 protein, rat; C530106:Ccnd1 protein, rat; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C021751:tanshinone; D019938:Cyclin D1