title: Usnic acid and atranorin exert selective cytostatic and anti-invasive effects on human prostate and melanoma cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lichens are an interesting source of potential anti-tumor compounds, among which usnic acid and atranorin seem to be the most promising, but their impact on invasive potential of tumor cells has not yet been comprehensively addressed. The aim of the study was focused on the impact of the two lichen metabolites, on the viability (by Trypan blue test and fluoresceine diacetate and ethidium bromide assay), proliferation (cell counting in a Bürker's chamber), apoptosis (flow cytometry analysis and Western blot) and motile activity (cell movement recording and image analysis) and actin cytoskeleton organization (immunofluorescent staining) of melanoma HTB-140, prostate cancers DU-145 and PC-3, normal human skin fibroblasts and prostate epithelial PNT2 cells, with special emphasis to their selectivity and versatility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both compounds exerted strong inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation, migration and actin cytoskeleton organization, while their effect on apoptosis process was less relevant. The impact of usnic acid on the examined cancer cells was found more efficient in comparison to atranorin. Also, selective effect of both agents on tumor cells was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of usnic acid and atranorin to inhibit cancer cells motility may have future implications for development of new therapeutic strategies targeted at the interference with the metastatic cascade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Faculty, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: mfgalant@cyf-kr.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galanty
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Faculty, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Cracow, Poland; Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koczurkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wnuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paw
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karnas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Faculty, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Podolak
authors.affiliation: Prof. Z. Czeppe Department of Polar Research and Documentation, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kopernika 27, 31-501 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Faculty, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Cracow, Poland; Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borusiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Madeja
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czyż
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalik
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054697:Cytostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D054697:Cytostatic Agents; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; C073339:usnic acid; C026304:atranorin
keywords: Actin cytoskeleton; Apoptosis; Atranorin; Cytotoxic; Metastasis; Usnic acid