title: Houttuynia cordata Thunb extract modulates G0/G1 arrest and Fas/CD95-mediated death receptor apoptotic cell death in human lung cancer A549 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is commonly used in Taiwan and other Asian countries as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral herbal medicine. In this study, we investigated the anti-human lung cancer activity and growth inhibition mechanisms of HCT in human lung cancer A549 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In order to investigate effects of HCT on A549 cells, MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability. Flow cytometry was employed for cell cycle analysis, DAPI staining, and the Comet assay was used for DNA fragmentation and DNA condensation. Western blot analysis was used to analyze cell cycle and apoptotic related protein levels. HCT induced morphological changes including cell shrinkage and rounding. HCT increased the G0/G1 and Sub-G1 cell (apoptosis) populations and HCT increased DNA fragmentation and DNA condensation as revealed by DAPI staining and the Comet assay. HCT induced activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3. Fas/CD95 protein levels were increased in HCT-treated A549 cells. The G0/G1 phase and apoptotic related protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin A, CDK 4 and CDK 2 were decreased, and p27, caspase-8 and caspase-3 were increased in A549 cells after HCT treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrated that HCT-induced G0/G1 phase arrest and Fas/CD95-dependent apoptotic cell death in A549 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan. yfchen@mail.cmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Yuh-Fung
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jai-Sing
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wen-Shin
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shih-Chang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Shu-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yuan-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059585:G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D052859:Houttuynia; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain / Q000378:metabolism; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C442781:Houttuynia cordata extract; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain; D019014:fas Receptor