title: Palmitic acid and ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol contribute to the apoptotic effect and cell cycle arrest of an extract from Marthasterias glacialis L. in neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: We describe the effect of a chemically characterized lipophilic extract obtained from Marthasterias glacialis L. against human breast cancer (MCF-7) and human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lines. Evaluation of DNA synthesis revealed that both cell lines were markedly affected in a concentration-dependent way, the SH-SY5Y cell line being more susceptible. Cell cycle arrest was observed, an effect induced by the sterol, ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol, present in the extract. Morphological evaluation of treated cells showed the advent of lipid droplets and chromatin condensation compatible with apoptosis, which was confirmed by the evaluation of caspase-3 and -9 activities. Palmitic acid was the main compound responsible for this apoptotic effect by a ceramide-independent mechanism that involved endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress with upregulation of CCAAT/-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP).
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Correia-da-Silva
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentão
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, nº 228, Porto 4050-313, Portugal. natercia@ff.up.pt.
authors.forename: Natércia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, nº 228, Porto 4050-313, Portugal. pandrade@ff.up.pt.
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002518:Ceramides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013215:Starfish / Q000378:metabolism*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051742:Transcription Factor CHOP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D002518:Ceramides; D002843:Chromatin; C497249:DDIT3 protein, human; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D051742:Transcription Factor CHOP; D019308:Palmitic Acid; C059438:ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol; D020169:Caspases; D013936:Thymidine; D004875:Ergosterol