[Effect of Bufalin on proliferation and apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell].
OBJECTIVE
Bufalin, a component of the Chinese medicine chan'su, induces apoptosis in various human tumor cell lines. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism of anti-proliferation and the induction of apoptosis of Bufalin on non-small cell lung cancer cell.


METHODS
The effect of Bufalin on A549 cell proliferation was measured using MTT assay; the morphological change was observed with Wright-Giemsa stain; cell cycle phase distribution and hypodiploid DNA were determined by flow cytometry with PI; expressions of Livin, Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot.


RESULTS
MTT assay showed that Bufalin inhibited A549 cell proliferation in time and dose-dependent manner. The inhibition concentration of 50% cell growth (IC50) at 48 h, 72 h and 96 h were (56.14+/-6.72) nmol/L, (15.57+/-4.28) nmol/L and (7.39+/-4.16) nmol/L, respectively; apoptosis of A549 cells could be effectively induced by Bufalin; apoptotic bodies and sub-G1 peak (representing apoptosis) emerged when cells were treated with different concentrations, compared with the untreated control group (P < 0.01). The expression of Livin protein was downregulated (P < 0.01) and Caspase-3 protein was activated during Bufalin-induced apoptosis in A549 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Bufalin suppresses the growth of A549 cells and induces apoptosis; inhibition of Livin and activation of Caspase-3 may be involved in its mechanism.
Zhu
Zhitu
Z
Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China.
Yu
Yunlong
Y
Wang
Kai
K
Li
Enze
E
Liu
Yangyang
Y
Liu
Yunpeng
Y
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002018:Bufanolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002025:Bufonidae; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology
D002018:Bufanolides; D053148:Caspase 3; C022777:bufalin