title: Ardipusilloside I induces apoptosis in human glioblastoma cells through a caspase-8-independent FasL/Fas-signaling pathway.
abstract: Ardipusilloside I, a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Ardisia pusilla A. DC, suppresses the growth of a variety of cancer cells, and has certain immunomodulative properties. Herein, we investigated its effect on glioblastoma cell line U87MG cells and primary cultured human glioblastoma cells, and examined the underlying mechanism of action. Ardipusilloside I substantially decreased the number of viable cells of both cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with a similar IC(50) of 4.05μM. Microscopy revealed apoptotic characteristics, including chromatin condensation and cell nucleus fragmentation, demonstrating that ardipusilloside I-induced apoptosis. Ardipusilloside I exposure also gradually increased the sub-G1 fraction (the apoptotic cell population) and an S phase-arrest of both glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, ardipusilloside I increased the expression of Fas and its ligand (FasL), and enhanced the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3. Additionally, we observed a significant decreased apoptosis after the trigger effection of FasL was abolished by the neutralization antibody anti-FasL antibody and an unchanged apoptosis level when the activation of caspase-8 was interrupted by specific inhibitor z-IETD-fmk, which suggested that a casepase-8 independent FasL/Fas-signaling-mediated death receptor pathway is involved. These data suggested that ardipusilloside I could be developed as a chemotherapeutic agent for the management of gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Fourth Military Medical University. No. 127 Changle Western Road, 710032 Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hai-Ning
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang