title: Inhibition of cell proliferation and triggering of apoptosis by agrimonolide through MAP kinase (ERK and p38) pathways in human gastric cancer AGS cells.
abstract: Data from the present study showed that agrimonolide exhibited a high anti-proliferation effect against human gastric cancer AGS cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the number of total apoptotic cells increased after the treatment with the agrimonolide in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, it was found that agrimonolide-induced cell apoptosis was associated with the increase in the (Bcl-2 Associated X Protein, BAX)/(B-cell lymphoma-2, Bcl-2) ratio and the activation of cleaved caspase-3. MAPK (p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and ERK1/2) signaling pathways were involved in agrimonolide-induced apoptosis. Cells were exposed to 40 μM of agrimonolide and the level of phospho-ERK/ERK protein was increased to 7.0-fold as compared to the control, and the expression of phospho-p38 protein showed a significant 6.2-fold increase after 24 h incubation, as compared to the control. The employment of protein kinase inhibitors of PD98059 and SB203580, showed the block effects of agrimonolide on the activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China. chenlei841114@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China. chenlei841114@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China. chenlei841114@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D049934:Isocoumarins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D049934:Isocoumarins; C036057:agrimonolide; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases