title: The caspase 3-dependent apoptotic effect of pycnogenol in human oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-3 cells.
abstract: In the present study, the apoptotic effect of pycnogenol and its molecular mechanism in human oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-3 cells were investigated. Pycnogenol significantly inhibited the viability of HSC-3 cells and suppressed neoplastic cell transformation in HSC-3 cells and TPA-treated JB6 cells. It caused caspase-dependent apoptosis evidenced by the increase in cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase 3 in a dose-dependent manner. Pycnogenol increased Bak protein by enhancing its protein stability whereas other Bcl-2 family members were not altered. In addition, the treatment with pycnogenol led to the production of reactive oxygen species and N-acetyl-l-cysteine almost blocked pycnogenol-induced reactive oxygen species generation. Taken together, these findings suggest that pycnogenol may be a potential candidate for the chemoprevention or chemotherapy of human oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Hyoung
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Ae
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Lee-Han
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Health, Welfare and Education, Gwangju University, Gwangju 503-703, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Dae
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Bak; ROS; apoptosis; oral cancer; pycnogenol