p38α MAPK-mediated induction and interaction of FOXO3a and p53 contribute to the inhibited-growth and induced-apoptosis of human lung adenocarcinoma cells by berberine

BACKGROUND: Berberine (BBR), a component from traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to possess anti-tumor activity against a wide spectrum of cancer cells including human lung cancer, but the detailed mechanism underlining this has not been well elucidated. METHODS: In this study, the effect of berberine on cell growth and apoptosis were assessed by MTT, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining assays. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2, and expressions of p38 MAPK isoforms α and β, total ERK1/2, p53, FOXO3a and p21 protein were evaluated by Western Blot analysis. Silencing of p38 MAPK isoform α and β, p53, FOXO3a and p21 were performed by siRNA methods. Exogenous expression of FOXO3a was carried out by electroporated transfection assays. RESULTS: We showed that BBR significantly inhibited growth and induced cell cycle arrest of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in the G0/G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that BBR increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in a time-dependent and induced protein expression of tumor suppressor p53 and transcription factor FOXO3a in a dose-dependent fashion. The specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK (SB203580), and silencing of p38α MAPK by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), but not ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) blocked the stimulatory effects of BBR on protein expression of p53 and FOXO3a. Interestingly, inhibition of p53 using one specific inhibitor (Pifithrin-α) and silencing of p53 using siRNAs overcome the inhibitory effect of BBR on cell growth. Silencing of FOXO3a appeared to attenuate the effect of BBR on p53 expression, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, BBR induces the protein expression of cell cycle inhibitor p21 (CIP1/WAF1), which was not observed in cells silencing of p53 or FOXO3α gene. Intriguingly, exogenous expression of FOXO3a enhanced the expression of p21 (CIP1/WAF1) and strengthened BBR-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Our results show that BBR inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells through activation of p38α MAPK signaling pathway, followed by induction of the protein expression of p53 and FOXO3a. The latter contribute to the BBR-increased p21 (CIP1/WAF1) protein expression. The exogenous FOXO3a, interaction and mutually exclusive events of p53 and FOXO3a augment the overall response of BBR

p38α MAPK-mediated induction and interaction of FOXO3a and p53 contribute to the inhibited-growth and induced-apoptosis of human lung adenocarcinoma cells by berberine

Berberine (BBR), a component from traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to possess anti-tumor activity against a wide spectrum of cancer cells including human lung cancer, but the detailed mechanism underlining this has not been well elucidated

β‐elemene inhibited expression of <scp>DNA</scp> methyltransferase 1 through activation of <scp>ERK</scp> 1/2 and <scp>AMPK</scp> α signalling pathways in human lung cancer cells: the role of Sp1

β-elemene, a compound derived from Rhizoma zedoariae, is a promising new plant-derived drug with broad-spectrum anticancer activity. However, the underlying mechanism by which this agent inhibits human lung cancer cell growth has not been well elucidated. In this study, we showed that β-elemene inhibits human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell growth, and increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt and AMPKα. Moreover, β-elemene inhibited expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), which was not observed in the presence of the specific inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) or AMPK (compound C). Overexpression of DNMT1 reversed the effect of β-elemene on cell growth. Interestingly, metformin not only reversed the effect of β-elemene on phosphorylation of Akt but also strengthened the β-elemene-reduced DNMT1. In addition, β-elemene suppressed Sp1 protein expression, which was eliminated by either ERK1/2 or AMPK inhibitor. Conversely, overexpression of Sp1 antagonized the effect of β-elemene on DNMT1 protein expression and cell growth. Taken together, our results show that β-elemene inhibits NSCLC cell growth viaERK1/2- and AMPKα-mediated inhibition of transcription factor Sp1, followed by reduction in DNMT1 protein expression. Metformin augments the effect of β-elemene by blockade of Akt signalling and additively inhibition of DNMT1 protein expression. The reciprocal ERK1/2 and AMPKα signalling pathways contribute to the overall responses of β-elemene. This study reveals a potential novel mechanism by which β-elemene inhibits growth of NSCLC cells

Baicalein increases the expression and reciprocal interplay of RUNX3 and FOXO3a through crosstalk of AMPKα and MEK

Baicalein, a natural flavonoid obtained from the Scutellaria baicalensis root, has been reported to inhibit growth of human lung cancer. However, the detailed mechanism underlying this has not been well elucidated

Activation of SAPK

Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, is known to have anti-tumor activity in various cancers including human non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of UA remain largely unknown

Activation of SAPK

Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, is known to have anti-tumor activity in various cancers including human non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of UA remain largely unknown