title: Gallic acid induces apoptosis in A375.S2 human melanoma cells through caspase-dependent and -independent pathways.
abstract: The natural antioxidant gallic acid (GA) has demonstrated a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in a series of cancer cell lines. However, there is no available information to show whether GA induces apoptosis in human skin cancer cells. In the present study, we report GA-induced apoptosis in A375.S2 human melanoma cells. GA affected morphological changes, decreased the percentage of viable cells and induced apoptosis in A375.S2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Observation of the molecular mechanism of apoptosis in A375.S2 cells showed that GA up-regulated the proapoptotic proteins such as Bax, and induced caspase cascade activity, but down-regulated antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2. GA induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular Ca2+ productions and decreased the level of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) in A375.S2 cells in a time-dependent manner. GA triggered cytosolic release of apoptotic molecules, cytochrome c, promoted activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and ultimately apoptotic cell death. In addition, GA also promoted cytosolic release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo G). Therefore, GA may also induce apoptosis through a caspase-independent pathway. Our results suggest that GA might be a potential anticancer compound; however, in depth in vivo studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Tung-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jen-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jai-Sing
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi-Shih
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Ya-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jaung-Geng
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005707:Gallic Acid; D045304:Cytochromes c; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium