title: Oxymatrine induces human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells apoptosis via regulating expression of Bcl-2 and IAP families, and releasing of cytochrome c.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxymatrine, an isolated extract from traditional Chinese herb Sophora Flavescens Ait, has been traditionally used for therapy of anti-hepatitis B virus, anti-inflammation and anti-anaphylaxis. The present study was to investigate the anti-cancer effect of oxymatrine on human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, and its possible molecular mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of oxymatrine on the viability and apoptosis was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and flow cytometry analysis. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-x (L/S), Bid, Bad, HIAP-1, HIAP-2, XIAP, NAIP, Livin and Survivin genes was accessed by RT-PCR. The levels of cytochrome c and caspase 3 protein were assessed by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxymatrine inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis of PANC-1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This was accompanied by down-regulated expression of Livin and Survivin genes while the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was upregulated. Furthermore, oxymatrine treatment led to the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxymatrine can induce apoptotic cell death of human pancreatic cancer, which might be attributed to the regulation of Bcl-2 and IAP families, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xuyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Weibing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shusen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053148:Caspase 3; D045304:Cytochromes c; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011807:Quinolizines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C037573:oxymatrine; D000093842:Matrines