title: Astaxanthin induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in rat hepatocellular carcinoma CBRH-7919 cells.
abstract: We designed to study the role of mitochondria in astaxanthin-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Effect of astaxanthin on cell proliferation was studied by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) in three tumor cell lines (CBRH-7919, SHZ-88 and Lewis) and normal human hepatocyte HL-7702 cell. Cell apoptosis rate, changes of mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and electron transport chain were evaluated respectively. Expressions of B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) were detected by Western blot. Results as following, astaxanthin had little effect on HL-7702 cell, however its inhibition was most pronounced in CBRH-7919 cell line with an IC₅₀ of 39 µM. This dose of astaxanthin and CBRH-7919 cell line were chosen for further studies. Astaxanthin could induce cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane damage. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential and function of electron transport chain were decreased. The expression of Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated but that of Bax protein was up-regulated. In conclusion, astaxanthin showed anticancer effect by inducing cell apoptosis through the regulation of mitochondrial-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jin-jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mei-rong
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin-bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Chang-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C005948:astaxanthine