title: Cecropin-P17, an analog of Cecropin B, inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma cell HepG-2 proliferation via regulation of ROS, Caspase, Bax, and Bcl-2.
abstract: Cecropin-P17 is a peptide derived from Cecropin B. In this study, we investigated the effects and relative mechanisms of Cecropin-P17 in a human liver cancer cell line (HepG-2) in vitro and in vivo. A cell viability assay, Annexin V/propidium iodide assay, western blot, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and a tumor-xenograft model were applied to elucidate the mechanism exerted by Cecropin-P17 on HepG-2 cells. Cecropin-P17 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG-2 cells and demonstrated low cytotoxicity to normal liver cells in vitro. The apoptotic rate of HepG-2 cells was increased after Cecropin-P17 treatment together with increased production of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, Cecropin-P17 stimulated caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax and inhibited Bcl-2 on both the transcriptional and translational levels. Finally, Cecropin-P17 significantly suppressed tumor growth in a HepG-2-bearing nude mouse model. All of these results indicated that Cecropin-P17 could be a potential agent for the treatment of liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Chunli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Shengyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Fanzong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Benli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: The General Department of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054807:Cecropins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054807:Cecropins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C000608040:cecropin-P17; C031162:cecropin B protein, Insecta; D020169:Caspases
keywords: Bax; Bcl-2; Cecropin-P17; HepG-2; ROS; apoptosis; caspase