title: Impact of polyphenolic components from mulberry on apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown that mulberry polyphenolic compounds have an anti-atherosclerotic effect in rabbits. Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the key determinant of the number of VSMCs in remodeling. To examine the effect of mulberry polyphenol extracts (MPEs) on the apoptosis of VSMCs and thus the prevention of atherosclerosis, this study investigated the ability of MPEs to induce apoptosis in vitro and the underlying mechanism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that MPEs initially activated JNK/p38 and p53, which in turn activated both Fas-ligand and mitochondrial pathways, thereby causing mitochondrial translocation of Bax and a reduction in Bcl-2. This then triggered the cleavage of procaspases, finally resulting in apoptosis of VSMCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that MPEs may suppress atherosclerosis through stimulating apoptosis of VSMCs via activating JNK/p38 and p53 signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuei-Chuan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsieh-Hsun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Ning
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.|Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Pei
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.|Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chau-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020169:Caspases
keywords: Fas-ligand; apoptosis; mitochondria; mulberry polyphenol extracts; p53; vascular smooth muscle cells