title: Tanshinone IIA sensitizes oral squamous cell carcinoma to radiation due to an enhanced autophagy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tanshinone IIA (TanIIA), which is derived from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), has multiple pharmacological activities. However, the radiosensitivezing activity of TanIIA in oral cancer cells has not been studied extensively. The purpose of this study is to investigate the radiosensitizing effects of TanIIA in human oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC090 and examined the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clonogenic assay was used to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of TanIIA on SCC090. And then, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by the combination of TanIIA with radiation were analyzed by Flow cytometry. Finally, autophagy was detected by monodansylcadervarine (MDC) staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TanIIA could significantly sensitize SCC090 to radiation. Meanwhile, an increase ROS generation after exposed to the combination treatment was found. In addition, the protein levels of Beclin 1, Atg5 and LC3-II, three important proteins involved in autophagy were increased in cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TanIIA exerted a strong radiosensitizing effect on SCC090 comparing with the simple drug or single radiation treatment, which was due to an enhanced ROS generation and autophagy.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors: Lijuan
authors: L
authors: Ding
authors: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors: Shudong
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Endocrinology, The Second Part of the First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors: Xiaozhang
authors: X
authors: Qu
authors: Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China. Electronic address: jiafeng_wang88@126.com.
authors: Jiafeng
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; C021751:tanshinone
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Radiation; SCC090; Tanshinone IIA