title: Genkwadaphnin induces reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells.
abstract: Genkwadaphnin is a daphnane diterpene ester molecule isolated from the flower buds of Daphne genkwa. In the present study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect of genkwadaphnin in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. Apoptosis was triggered in SCC12 cells following genkwadaphnin treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Genkwadaphnin treatment increased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Knockdown of JNK and p38 MAPK by recombinant adenovirus expressing microRNA (miR) resulted in significant inhibition of genkwadaphnin-induced apoptosis in SCC12 cells. Finally, pretreatment with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) markedly reduced SCC12 cell apoptosis, concomitant with significant inhibition of MAPK activation. These results indicate that genkwadaphnin has the potential to induce apoptosis in SCC cells, providing information on which to base further research with the aim of developing a cure for SCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Zheng Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Xue Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Yong Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Kyoung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sue Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Medical Genomics Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Wha
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Deok
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhoon@cnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jeung-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C036412:genkwadaphnin; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Apoptosis; Genkwadaphnin; Squamous cell carcinoma