title: Telekin suppresses human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro by inducing G2/M phase arrest via the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telekin, isolated from the Chinese herb Carpesium divaricatum, has shown anti-proliferation effects against various cancer cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferation mechanisms of telekin in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  HepG2 cells were treated with telekin. Cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to measure cell cycle profiles, ROS level and apoptosis. The protein expression levels were analyzed with Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telekin (3.75-30 μmol/L) dose-dependently inhibited the viability of HepG2 cells and induced l apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, accompanied by significantly increased the phosphorylation of Cdc25A and Cdc2, and decreased Cyclin B1 level. Moreover, the treatment significantly stimulated ROS production, and increased the phosphorylation of p38 and MAPKAPK-2 in the cells. Pretreatment with the antioxidant NAC (2.5, 5, and 10 mmol/L), or the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (2.5 and 5 μmol/L) dose-dependently attenuated these telekin-induced effects in the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telekin suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro by inducing G2/M phase arrest via activating the p38 MAPK pathway.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China [2] School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji-nan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.
authors.forename: Bei-bei
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.
authors.forename: Li-sha
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.
authors.forename: Juan-juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China [2] School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji-nan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D056744:Cyclin B1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099190:MAP-Kinase-Activated Kinase 2
chemical_list: D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D056744:Cyclin B1; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000099190:MAP-Kinase-Activated Kinase 2; C534699:CCNB1 protein, human; C584237:telekin; C528899:CDK1 protein, human; C517004:CDC25A protein, human