Icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, induces apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells via a ROS/JNK-dependent mitochondrial pathway

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• 作者：Songgang Li ; Ping Dong ; Jianwei Wang ; Jie Zhang ; Jun Gu ; Xiangsong Wu ; Wenguang Wu ; Xiaozhou Fei ; Zhiping Zhang ; Yong Wang ; Zhiwei Quan ; Yingbin Liu
• 关键词：Hepatoma ; Icariin ; SMMC-7721 cells ; Apoptosis ; Reactive oxygen species ; c-Jun N-terminal kinase
• 刊名：Cancer Letters
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：8 December 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：298
• 期：2
• 页码：222-230
• 全文大小：994 K

文摘

In this study, the anticancer effect of icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, against human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. Icariin triggered the mitochondrial/caspase apoptotic pathway indicated by enhanced Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase cascade. Moreover, icariin induced a sustained activation of the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) but not p38 and ERK1/2, and SP600125 (an inhibitor of JNK) almost reversed icariin-induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells. In addition, icariin provoked the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SMMC-7721 cells, while the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine almost completely blocked icariin-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that icariin induces apoptosis through a ROS/JNK-dependent mitochondrial pathway.