title: Icariside II inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest through the ROS-p38-p53 signaling pathway in A375 human melanoma cells.
abstract: Icariside II (IS) is a metabolite of icariin, which is derived from Herba Epimedii. In the present study, the antiproliferative effects of IS on A375 human melanoma cells were examined in vitro and a possible mechanism through the ROS-p38-p53 pathway is discussed. A cell WST-8 assay revealed that treatment with IS markedly reduced cell viability from 77 to 21% (25 and 100 µM, respectively), and cell counting demonstrated that IS treatment reduced cell proliferation. IS treatment also induced cell cycle arrest of A375 cells at the G0/G1 and G2/M transitions and inhibited the expression of cell-cycle related proteins, including cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), cyclin B1 and phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (P-CDK1). In this study, it was determined that IS inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest through the generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of p38 and p53. These findings were further supported by the evidence that pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, SB203580 or pifithrin-α significantly blocked IS-induced reduction of cell viability, increase of cell death and cell cycle arrest. In conclusion, IS inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest. Crucially, it was confirmed that these effects were mediated at least in part by activating the ROS-p38-p53 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 25002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005419:Flavonoids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C060988:baohuoside I; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases