title: Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin.
abstract: Cordycepin, a 3-deoxyadenosine, is the predominant functional component of the fungusCordyceps militaris, a traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies investigating the inhibition of cancer cells by cordycepin identified that it not only promotes cell apoptosis, but also controls cell proliferation. Furthermore, studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms of inhibiting cell proliferation by cordycepin binding the A3 adenosine receptor, activating G protein, inhibiting cAMP formation, decreasing glycogen synthase kinase-3β/β-catenin activation and suppressing cyclin D1 and c-myc expression. The most significant signaling pathway in which cell apoptosis is induced by cordycepin is the caspase pathway. Cordycepin induces cell apoptosis via binding the DR3 receptor and consequently activating caspase-8/-3. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that cordycepin may be used as a natural medicine, as it can not only control tumor cell proliferation, but also induce cancer cell apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, P.R. China ; Sports Science Research Center of Shandong, Jinan, Shandong 250102, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Technology of Shandong High School, Shandong Wanjie Medical College, Zibo, Shandong 255213, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yujian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Technology of Shandong High School, Shandong Wanjie Medical College, Zibo, Shandong 255213, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yinyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Technology of Shandong High School, Shandong Wanjie Medical College, Zibo, Shandong 255213, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiaoqiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Technology of Shandong High School, Shandong Wanjie Medical College, Zibo, Shandong 255213, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qinglu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, P.R. China ; Biology Center, China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing 100061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lianshi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
keywords: cancer cells apoptosis; caspase signal pathway; cell proliferation; cordycepin