title: Pterostilbene induce autophagy on human oral cancer cells through modulation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extensive research supports the administration of herbal medicines or natural foods during cancer therapy. Pterostilbene, a naturally occurring phytoalexin, has various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant activity, cancer prevention activity, and cytotoxicity to many cancers. However, the effect of pterostilbene on the autophagy of tumor cells has not been clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the unique effects of pterostilbene on the autophagy of human oral cancer cells were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed that pterostilbene effectively inhibited the growth of human oral cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, the formation of acidic vesicular organelles and LC3-II production also demonstrated that pterostilbene induced autophagy. Administering 3-methylamphetamine (3-MA) and bafilomycin A1 (BafA1) exerted differing effects on the pterostilbene-induced death of human oral cancer cells. Pterostilbene-induced autophagy was triggered by activation of JNK1/2 and inhibition of Akt, ERK1/2, and p38.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, this study demonstrated that pterostilbene caused autophagy and apoptosis in human oral cancer cells, suggesting that pterostilbene could serve as a new and promising agent for treating human oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Tungs' Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oral Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiao-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mu-Kuan
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shun-Fa
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan. Electronic address: hlchiou@csmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Cancer Research Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan; School of Optometry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan. Electronic address: 170780@cch.org.tw.
authors.forename: Ming-Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000187:drug effects; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C000592890:3-methylamphetamine; D000662:Amphetamines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; D018942:Macrolides; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D013267:Stilbenes; C107773:pterostilbene; C040929:bafilomycin A1; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; MAPK; Oral cancer; Phytoalexin; Pterostilbene