title: A novel polysaccharide, isolated from Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels induces the apoptosis of cervical cancer HeLa cells through an intrinsic apoptotic pathway.
abstract: A novel polysaccharide isolated from Angelica sinensis, named APS-1d showed cytotoxic activity towards several cancer cell lines in vitro. However, the precise antitumor mechanisms of this compound are unknown. In this study, we investigated the pro-apoptotic effects of APS-1d in human cervical cancer HeLa cells both in vitro and in vivo, and further elucidated the mechanisms of this action. Inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and the therapeutic efficacy of APS-1d was evaluated by human cancer xenografts in nude mice. Cell apoptosis was examined with flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The mechanism of action of APS-1d was investigated by Western blot analysis. APS-1d decreased HeLa cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in vitro. In addition, APS-1d significantly inhibited tumor growth in athymic nude mice. Characteristic manifestations of apoptosis including apoptotic morphological features and the sub- G(0)/G(1) peaks were observed when the cells were treated with APS-1d. Further analysis showed that APS-1d-induced apoptosis was associated with the regulation of Bcl-2 family protein expression, a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and an increase in the cytosolic cytochrome c levels. Sequentially, APS-1d increased the activities of caspase-9, -3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in a concentration-dependent manner, however, no obvious activation of Bid and caspase-8 was observed. Pretreatment with Z-LEHD-FMK, a specific inhibitor of caspase-9, significantly attenuated APS-1d-induced cell apoptosis, and activation of caspase-3. Taken together, our studies indicate that APS-1d is capable of inhibiting HeLa cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in these cells which primarily involves the activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, the Fourth Military Medical University, 169 West Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: X-Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H-T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: X-N
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: S-B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Q-B
authors.initials: QB
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D029971:Angelica sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009842:Oligopeptides; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: C553872:APS-1d compound; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C403754:benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-glutamyl-histidyl-aspartic acid fluoromethyl ketone; D045304:Cytochromes c; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D020169:Caspases