Noscapine induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
Noscapine plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth and death. It has been reported to potentiate the anti-tumor effect by inducing apoptosis in various malignant cells. However, the mechanism of inducing apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by this agent remains to be clarified.


METHODS
In the study, we investigated the signaling pathways by which noscapine induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cell lines. Apoptosis of four human gastric cancer cell lines was induced by treatment with noscapine.


RESULTS
Our results indicate that noscapine induced a dose-dependent apoptosis of these cells. The treatment with noscapine upregulated Bax and Cytochrome c (Cyt-c) protein, downregulated Bcl-2 protein. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 were activated, suggesting that the apoptosis is mediated by mitochondrial pathways. Moreover, in xenograft tumor mouse model, noscapine injection successfully inhibited the tumor growth via apoptosis induction which was demonstrated by TUNEL assay.


CONCLUSIONS
These data of the study suggest that noscapine induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells via mitochondrial pathways.
Liu
Meng
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Luo
Xiao-Juan
XJ
Liao
Fei
F
Lei
Xiao-Fei
XF
Dong
Wei-Guo
WG
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009665:Noscapine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D009665:Noscapine; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9