title: Farnesol induces apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of farnesol on the induction of apoptosis in DU145 prostate cancer cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay showed that cell proliferation decreased significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner. 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole staining showed that chromatin condensation in cells treated with 60 µM of farnesol was markedly higher than in the control groups. Farnesol increased the expression of p53, p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase, cleaved-caspase-3, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-9, but decreased the expression of p-phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), p-Akt, p-p38, Bcl-2, and p-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic cell ratio increased in a dose-dependent manner. The tumor growth inhibitory effect of farnesol was investigated in a mouse model. Compared to the control group, tumor volume decreased significantly in the group administered 50 mg/kg farnesol. Apoptosis was frequently detected in this same group by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay. The results indicated that farnesol induced apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam 340702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam 340702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam 340702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Ri
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam 340702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam 340702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byeong Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam 340702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005204:Farnesol; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases