title: Pien Tze Huang induced apoptosis in human colon cancer HT-29 cells is associated with regulation of the Bcl-2 family and activation of caspase 3.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the cellular effects of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) in the HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  The viability of HT-29 cells was determined by MTT assay. A fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis with annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) and JC-1 staining were performed to determine cell apoptosis and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. Activation of caspase 3 was evaluated by a colorimetric assay. The mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PZH, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, reduced viability and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells. Moreover, PZH treatment resulted in the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase 3, and an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PZH inhibits the growth of HT-29 cells by inducing cancer cell apoptosis via regulation of the Bcl-2 family and activation of caspase 3, which may, in part, explain its anticancer activity.
authors: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
authors: Jiu-mao
authors: JM
authors: Lin
authors: Li-hui
authors: LH
authors: Wei
authors: You-qin
authors: YQ
authors: Chen
authors: Xian-xiang
authors: XX
authors: Liu
authors: Zhen-feng
authors: ZF
authors: Hong
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Sferra
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Peng
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C539975:pien tze huang; D053148:Caspase 3