Cepharanthine induces apoptosis through reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells.
Cepharanthine is a medicinal plant-derived natural compound which possesses potent anti-cancer properties. However, there is little report about its effects on lung cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of cepharanthine on the cell viability and apoptosis in human non-small-cell lung cancer H1299 and A549 cells. It was found that cepharanthine inhibited the growth of H1299 and A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner which was associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). These effects were markedly abrogated when cells were pretreated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a specific ROS inhibitor, indicating that the apoptosis-inducing effect of cepharanthine in lung cancer cells was mediated by ROS. In addition, cepharanthine triggered apoptosis in non-small lung cancer cells via the upregulation of Bax, downregulation of Bcl-2 and significant activation of caspase-3 and PARP. These results provide the rationale for further research and preclinical investigation of cepharanthine's anti-tumor effect against human non-small-cell lung cancer.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, 130041, China.
Peiyan
P
Hua
Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, China.
Mei
M
Sun
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, 130041, China.
Guangxin
G
Zhang
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, 130041, China.
Yifan
Y
Zhang
Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, 130041, China.
Xin
X
Tian
Department of Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, China.
Xin
X
Li
Department of Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, China. Electronic address: cuiranji@hotmail.com.
Ranji
R
Cui
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, 130041, China. Electronic address: xingyizhang@live.com.
Xingyi
X
Zhang
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D052117:Benzodioxoles
D000111:Acetylcysteine; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles
A549 cells; Apoptosis; Cepharanthine; H1299 cells; Non-small-cell lung cancer; ROS