title: Active Components of Fungus Shiraia bambusiscola Can Specifically Induce BGC823 Gastric Cancer Cell Apoptosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastric cancer is a major health issue worldwide. Using a therapeutic approach, with minor side-effects, is very essential for the treatment of the gastric cancer. Shiraia bambusicola is a parasitic fungus which is widely used in China for curing several diseases with little side-effects. However, the mechanisms are not well understood yet. The aim of this study was to further understand the pharmacological mechanisms of Shiraia bambusicola and investigate whether it can be used for curing gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, we mainly tested the effect of active components extracted from Shiraia bambusicola on BGC823, A549 and HepG2 cells. We used MTT assay to test cell viability. We also analyzed morphologic changes caused by apoptosis using Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining, as well as cell cycle status and apoptosis ratio using flow-cytometer. In addition, protein expression level was tested by Western-blotting assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BGC-823 cell proliferation was specifically inhibited by active components of Shiraia bambusicola. Meanwhile, these active components could induce BGC-823 cells apoptosis and retard the cell cycle in S/G2 phase. We also determined that two critical protein markers cleaved Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), involved in apoptosis process, were regulated by these active components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data shed light on the treatment of human gastric cancer and conclude that Shiraia bambusicola can be a good therapeutic candidate for treatment of this malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Shubing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Dewen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Jingjiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Apoptosis; FLIP; Gastric Cancer; PARP; Shiraia Bambusicola