Mechanisms of gambogic acid-induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells in relation to transferrin receptors.
Gambogic acid (GA) is one of the important active ingredients of gamboge. Our study examined the expression of transferrin receptors (TFR) on the cell surface of human lung SPC-A1 and SK-MES-1 cells and measured their GA-induced apoptosis rate. The results showed that SPC-A1 cells with a higher TFR expression were more sensitive at the same GA concentrations. To examine its distribution in cultured cells and study the mechanisms of apoptosis, we labeled GA with a (125)I tracer and examined the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. we found that GA uptake into SPC-A1 cells was higher than into SK-MES-1 cells; apoptosis-related proteins Caspase 2, Caspase 9, Caspase 10, Bax and p53 were involved in GA-induced apoptosis. We conclude that GA has an apoptosis-promoting effect on non small cell lung cancer cells. In clinical practice, the histopathological quantitation of TFR expression levels in tumor tissues may become a predictor of the sensitivity of patients' tumors to GA treatment.
Zhu
Xiaoli
X
Respiratory Diseases Department of Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
Zhang
Hongming
H
Lin
Yong
Y
Chen
Pingsheng
P
Min
Jie
J
Wang
Zhengzhong
Z
Xiao
Wei
W
Chen
Bao'an
B
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044004:Xanthones / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D044004:Xanthones; C052659:gambogic acid