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Research Article
Ethyl Alcohol
Extract of Hizikia fusiforme Induces Caspase-dependent
Apoptosis in Human Leukemia U937 Cells by Generation of
Reactive Oxygen Species
Chang-Hee
Kang1, Sang-Hyuck Kang1, Sung-Hwan
Boo1, Sung-Young Park2, Yung H
Choi3, Dong-Oh Moon4 and Gi-Young
Kim1*
1Laboratory
of Immunobiology, Department of Marine Life Sciences,
Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756,
2OTTOGI
Research Institute, OTTOGI Ltd., Gyeonggi-do 431-070,
3Department
of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui
University, Busan 614-054,
4
Department of Biology
Education, College of Education, Daegu University,
Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 712-714, Republic of Korea
For correspondence:
E-mail:
immunkim@jejunu.ac.kr Tel: +82 64 754
3427; Fax: +82 64 756 3493
Received: 27 March
2011 Revised
accepted: 20 October, 2011
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, December 2011;
10(6): 739-746
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v10i6.6
Abstract
Purpose:
Hizikia fusiforme is renowned
for the possession of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant
properties. In this study, the role of the ethyl alcohol
extract of H. fusiforme (EAHF) in the induction of
apoptosis in human leukemia U937 cells was investigated.
Methods:
Protein expression was investigated by Western blot
analysis. Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed by
an MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis. Caspase
activity was analyzed using a caspase-specific kit.
Results:
EAHF
suppressed the proliferation of U937 cells in a
dose-dependent manner. This effect was closely related
to the induction of apoptosis via the downregulation of
IAP family members such as IAP-1, IAP-2 and XIAP, as
well as Bcl-2 proteins. The results also showed that
caspases play an essential role in EAHF-induced
apoptosis by generating of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
In addition, ROS scavenging by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)
and glutathione (GSH) decreased EAHF-induced apoptosis
via the suppression of caspase activity. Although EAHF
induced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein
kinases (MAPKs), treatment with MAPK inhibitors did not
affect EAHF-induced apoptosis.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that EAHF induces apoptosis in
U937 cells via ROS-dependent caspase activation.
Keywords:
Hizikia
fusiforme, Apoptosis, Caspase, Reactive oxygen species . |
