Cordycepin induces apoptosis of CGTH W-2 thyroid carcinoma cells through the calcium-calpain-caspase 7-PARP pathway.
Cordycepin, a nucleoside isolated from Cordyceps sinensis, is an inhibitor of polyadenylation and has an antitumor effect. We used CGTH W-2, a follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line, to study the mechanism of the anticancer effect of cordycepin. Cordycepin decreased cell viability and resulted in apoptosis but not necrosis. Cordycepin increased intracellular calcium levels triggering calpain activation, which led to apoptosis. BAPTA/AM and calpeptin inhibited the cordycepin-induced cleavage of caspase 7 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), implying an upstream role of calcium and calpain. CGTH W-2 cells expressed four subtypes of adenosine receptors (AR), A1AR, A2AAR, A2BAR, and A3AR. Specific antagonists to AR subtypes all blocked cordycepin-induced apoptosis to different degrees. Small interfering RNA for A1AR and A3AR abrogated cordycepin-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, the cordycepin-induced apoptosis of CGTH W-2 cells is mediated by the calcium-calpain-caspase 7-PARP pathway, and ARs are involved in the apoptotic effect of cordycepin.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Ying
Y
Chen
Yung-Chia
YC
Chen
Yen-Tung
YT
Lin
Shih-Horng
SH
Huang
Seu-Mei
SM
Wang
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002154:Calpain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D002154:Calpain; D053179:Caspase 7; C058120:cordycepin; D002118:Calcium