Fibroblast growth factor-2 suppresses oridonin-induced L929 apoptosis through extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-independent pathway

Oridonin, isolated from Rabdosia rubescences, has been reported to exert cytotoxic effects on L929 cells. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of FGF-2 protection of L929 cells from oridonin-induced apoptosis. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB) signal did not mediate this effect because the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin failed to reverse this protection and PKB activation was not observed in this process. In contrast, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was responsible for this rescue because its inhibition abolished the protective effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2. ERK had dual regulatory functions: mediating cell apoptosis or preventing cells from initiating the apoptotic response by phosphorylation or promoting expression of Bcl-2 in dependence of different stimuli. In L929 cells treated with oridonin alone, the activated ERK decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax by mediating the phosphorylation of Bcl-2, resulting in apoptosis; the Ras inhibitor manumycin A and Raf inhibitor GW5074 failed to inhibit this apoptosis, indicating that there is a signal other than Ras/Raf pathway activated ERK. However, in the presence of FGF-2, Bcl-2 phosphorylation was blocked, and the Ras/Raf/ERK signal pathway was activated and protected against the oridonin-induced apoptosis by the alternative function of promoting of Bcl-2 expression.     

Oridonin-induced A431 cell apoptosis partially through blockage of the Ras/Raf/ERK signal pathway

We have reported that oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the plant Rabdosia rubescens, had apoptosis-inducing activities in many cell lines (e.g., human melanoma A375-S2, human cervical cancer HeLa, human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7, and murine fibrosarcoma L929). In this study, we further investigated signaling events involved in oridonin-induced apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. It was found that the total tyrosine kinase activity was inhibited and the protein expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphorylated EGFR were decreased in oridonin-induced A431 cell apoptosis. Expression of EGFR downstream effector proteins, Grb2, Ras, Raf-1, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), was also downregulated by oridonin. Moreover, the oridonin-induced apoptosis was augmented by the Ras inhibitor manumycin A, Raf-1 inhibitor GW5074, or ERK inhibitor PD98059, suggesting that inactivation of Ras, Raf, or ERK participates in oridonin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, oridonin-induced apoptosis in A431 cells might be through blocking EGFR and its downstream Ras/Raf/ERK signal pathway.     

Augmentation of oridonin-induced apoptosis observed with reduced autophagy

Our previous studies showed that oridonin could induce apoptosis in HeLa cells; and in this study, we further investigated autophagy induced by oridonin in HeLa cells and the relationship between apoptosis and autophagy. HeLa cells were exposed with oridonin after 3-methyladenine (3-MA) pre-culture, and we evaluated the growth inhibitory ratio, morphologic changes, DNA fragmentation, proteins expression as well as autophagic and apoptotic levels. Oridonin inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells in vitro and induced autophagy. Oligonucleosomal fragementation of DNA as well as increased activities of Bax proteins were induced by oridonin, but the expression of p-Bcl-2 protein was reduced. In the condition of oridonin-treatment, when the inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), wortmannin, was applied, the autophagic level was significantly decreased, while the apoptotic level was increased, indicating that PI3K is a key regulator of both autophagy and apoptosis. Akt, down-stream factor of PI3K, was activated in autophagic process but suppressed in apoptosis in this study. In addition, when autophagy was blocked by 3-MA, the expression of SIRT-1 was decreased, indicating SIRT-1 contributed to autophagy. Taken together, oridonin simultaneously induced HeLa cell both apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells, and inhibition of autophagy contributes to upregulation of apoptosis.     

Autophagy preceded apoptosis in oridonin-treated human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Recent studies have shown that MCF-7 cells undergo autophagy under some conditions, such as tamoxifen treatment and starvation. In this study, we investigated autophagy in MCF-7 cells under oridonin treatment and further examined the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. After 3-MA (the specific inhibitor of autophagy) pre-culture, MCF-7 cells were exposed to oridonin, and the growth inhibitory ratio, morphologic changes, DNA fragmentation, proteins expression, autophagic ratio and apoptotic ratio were evaluated. Oridonin inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and induced autophagy in vitro. MDC (a specific dye for autophagosome) recruitment and typical apoptotic features, including apoptotic bodies, membrane blebbing as well as nuclear condensation, were induced by oridonin. Oridonin downregulated the phosphorylation of ERK, whereas those of JNK and P38 kinase were upregulated. In the condition of oridonin treatment, 3-MA significantly reduced the autophagic level, and the apoptotic cell ratio was also declined. Furthermore, combined treatment with oridonin and 3-MA upregulated ERK phosphorylation and downregulated JNK and P38 kinases phosphorylation compared with oridonin alone treatment groups, indicating that autophagy facilitated apoptosis in oridonin-induced MCF-7 cells. In addition, 3-MA application downregulated DNA ladder and Bax expression but upregulated Bcl-2 expression, compared with oridonin alone treatment. Taken together, oridonin simultaneously induced MCF-7 cells both apoptosis and autophagy, and in this settings, inhibition of autophagy induced lowered apoptotic level, therefore, autophagy participated in upregulation of apoptosis.     

Oridonin induced autophagy in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells through Ras, JNK, and P38 regulation

In this study, we investigated autophagy induced by oridonin in HeLa cells. HeLa cells were exposed to oridonin, and the fluorescent changes, autophagic levels, and protein expressions were evaluated. Oridonin induced autophagy in HeLa cells in vitro in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Oridonin-treated HeLa cells, which had been prelabeled with the autophagosome-specific dye monodansylcadervarine (MDC), recruited more MDC-positive particles and had a significantly higher fluorescent density; and simultaneously, expressions of autophagy-related proteins, MAP-LC3 and Beclin 1, were increased by oridonin. In oridonin-induced Hela cells, pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA, the specific inhibitor of autophagy) dose-dependently decreased the autophagic ratio accompanied with downregulation of the protein expressions of MAP-LC3 and Beclin 1. Furthermore, when a Ras inhibitor was applied, the autophagic levels were augmented, whereas P38 and JNK inhibitors decreased the autophagic ratio significantly, indicating that this oridonin-induced autophagic process was negatively regulated by Ras, but positively regulated by P38 and JNK MAPKs. Raf-1 and ERK1/2 had no obvious correlation to these signaling pathways.     

Oridonin induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell apoptosis through tyrosine kinase and mitochondrial pathway

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the plant Rabdosia rubescens, induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell death through apoptosis and tyrosine kinase pathway. To examine the pathway of oridonin-induced A431 cell death, morphologic observation, lactate dehydrogenase activity-based assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis were carried out. When A431 cells, which overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were treated with oridonin, caspase-3 was activated followed by the degradation of caspase-3 substrates, inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a time-dependent manner. Oridonin promoted the release of cytochrome c and the down-regulation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim). Oridonin up-regulated the expression ratio of mitochondrial proteins, Bax/Bcl-2. In addition, the total tyrosine kinase activity of A431 cellular proteins and the expression of EGFR were markedly reduced after oridonin treatment. Taken together, oridonin induced apoptosis in A431 cells via mitochondrial pathway, activation of caspase-3 and inhibition of tyrosine kinase activities.     

Roles of Ras and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent IkappaBalpha degradation in oridonin-enhanced phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by human macrophage-like U937 cells

Rapid recognition and ingestion of apoptotic cells by phagocytes are important for the prevention of toxic intracellular contents release, thereby attenuate inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have reported that oridonin isolated from Rabdosia rubescens enhanced phagocytosis of apoptotic U937 cells by macrophage-like U937 cells through TNFalpha and IL-1beta release. In this study, the molecular mechanisms involved in this phagocytic process are investigated. Inhibitors of Ras and Raf1 kinase significantly reduced oridonin-induced phagocytic stimulation as well as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Simultaneously, oridonin-enhanced engulfment was partially blocked by a nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB inhibitor PDTC or proteasome inhibitor MG132. Further studies revealed that oridonin induced IkappaBalpha degradation, which was prevented by Ras inhibitor manumycin A, ERK inhibitor PD98059, but not prevented by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK inhibitor SP600125, and up-regulated expression of IL-1beta precursor. These results demonstrate that Ras/Raf1/ERK signaling pathway-dependent IkappaBalpha degradation, resulting in NF-kappaB activation, participates in regulation of oridonin-enhanced phagocytosis, and one of its effector functions is to induce synthesis of IL-1beta, which partially contribute to phagocytic activity of oridonin.     

Oridonin induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell apoptosis through tyrosine kinase and mitochondrial pathway

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the plant Rabdosia rubescens, induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell death through apoptosis and tyrosine kinase pathway. To examine the pathway of oridonin-induced A431 cell death, morphologic observation, lactate dehydrogenase activity-based assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis were carried out. When A431 cells, which overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were treated with oridonin, caspase-3 was activated followed by the degradation of caspase-3 substrates, inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a time-dependent manner. Oridonin promoted the release of cytochrome c and the down-regulation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). Oridonin up-regulated the expression ratio of mitochondrial proteins, Bax/Bcl-2. In addition, the total tyrosine kinase activity of A431 cellular proteins and the expression of EGFR were markedly reduced after oridonin treatment. Taken together, oridonin induced apoptosis in A431 cells via mitochondrial pathway, activation of caspase-3 and inhibition of tyrosine kinase activities.     

Cytochrome c release from oridonin-treated apoptotic A375-S2 cells is dependent on p53 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation

We have reported that oridonin isolated from Rabdosia rubescens induces apoptosis of human melanoma A375-S2 cells within 12 h. In this study, TUNEL assay and flow cytometric analysis also indicate that one of the causes of A375-S2 cell death induced by oridonin was apoptosis. The cell death was preceded by the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Twelve hours after treatment with oridonin, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-xL protein expression was increased and release of cytochrome c was decreased by an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) MAPK inhibitor (PD98059) and a phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3-K) inhibitor (wortmannin). A mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) inhibitor, decylubiquinone, suppressed the release of cytochrome c without affecting Bax expression. The activation of p53 by oridonin was also blocked by wortmannin. In addtion, PD98059 and wortmannin significantly decreased oridonin-induced DNA fragmentation, but the p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) did not after DNA fragmentation. Oridonin induced A375-S2 cell apoptosis by activating parallel p53 and ERK pathways, increasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-xL protein expression, and promoting the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, resulting in apoptotic cell death.     

Oridonin induces a caspase-independent but mitochondria- and MAPK-dependent cell death in the murine fibrosarcoma cell line L929

Oridonin, an active component isolated from Rabdosia rubescences, has been reported to exhibit antitumor effects, but little is known about its molecular mechanisms of action. In this study, the growth-inhibitory activity of oridonin for L929 cells is in time- and dose-dependent manner. After treatment with various concentrations of oridonin for 12 h, the majority of L929 cells underwent apoptosis as measured by an LDH activity-based assay. Although apoptotic bodies were observed in oridonin-treated L929 cells, DNA fragmentation as a hallmark of apoptosis was not found. The pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD, and caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD, sensitized L929 cells to oridonin, however, a PARP inhibitor (DPQ) effectively blocked oridonin-induced cell death. After 12 h treatment, PARP proenzyme was significantly cleaved. This result indicated that oridonin-induced L929 cell death required PARP degradation in a caspase-independent manner. In addition, an MEK/ERK inhibitor (PD98059) markedly blocked oridonin-induced cell death, whereas a p38 inhibitor (SB203580) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) weakly protected the cells against death. Treatment with 41.2 microM oridonin for 12 h induced significant and persistent ERK activation and p38 inactivation in L929 cells without evident changes in the protein levels. The responsiveness of ERK and p38 to oridonin suggests the involvement of these kinases in this apoptotic process. Moreover, oridonin increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression, whereas it had no effect on the expression of Bcl-xL. These results indicate that regulation of the Bcl-2 and MAPK families maybe the effector mechanisms of oridonin-induced L929 cell death, independent of the caspase pathway.     

Caspase inhibition augmented oridonin-induced cell death in murine fibrosarcoma l929 by enhancing reactive oxygen species generation

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescences, has been reported to have antitumor effects. In this study, the growth-inhibitory activity of oridonin for L929 cells was exerted in a time-and dose-dependent manner. After treatment with oridonin for 24 h, L929 cells underwent both apoptosis and necrosis as measured by an lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity-based assay. A rapid generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was triggered by oridonin, and subsequently up-regulation of phospho-p53 (ser 15) expression and an increased expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was observed. Furthermore, there was a significant fall in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and increase in caspase-3 activity after exposure to oridonin for 24 h. Surprisingly, the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and caspase3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk rendered L929 cells more sensitive to oridonin, rather than preventing oridonin-induced cell death. Oridonin and z-VAD-fmk co-treatment not only resulted in an even higher ROS production, but also made a more significant reduction in the MMP. Pretreatment of ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) led to a complete inhibition of oridonin-induced cell death, intracellular ROS generation, and MMP collapse. NAC treatment also reversed the potentiation of cell death by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. Taken together, these observations showed that oridonin-induced cell death in L929 cells involved intracellular ROS generation, activation of phospho-p53 (ser 15), and up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; and the augmented cell death by z-VAD-fmk was dependent on an increased ROS production.     

Cornin protects astrocytes against autophagy induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cornin against astrocytes autophagy induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and its mechanism. METHODS In vitro, U87 cells were used to establish oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R) as a cerebral ischemia model. In vivo, a SpragueDawley(SD) rat middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) model was used to evaluated the effects of cornin against autophagy in astrocytes. RESULTS The results demonstrated that cornin was able to increase the ratio of apoptosis regulator Bcl-2/Bax and decrease the level of cleaved-caspase-3 protein. Similarly, cornin reduce the rate of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry. In addition, cornin(100 nmol·L~(-1)) decreased the expression of microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 B(LC3-Ⅱ) and Beclin-1 protein, increased the level of p62,and upregulated phosphorylated protein kinase m TOR(m TOR), phosphorylated(p) RAC α serine/threonine protein kinase(Akt) in OGD treated U87 cells. However,following PI3 K inhibitor LY294002 and m TOR si RNA reversed this result. Cornin(10 mg · kg~(-1)) significantly reduced the cerebral infarction volume and the leakage rate of blood-brain barrier(BBB). The expression of autophagy proteins(LC3-Ⅱ, Beclin-1, P62) and apoptosis-associated proteins(Bcl-2/Bax, cleaved caspase-3) in brain tissue showed the similar results as in cells. Similarly, PI3 K inhibitor LY294002 was able to reversed the protective effect of cornin and upregulate autophagy-associated proteins. In addition, immunohistochemistry staining was applied for Neu N, GFAP, LC3 B and Beclin-1, and cornin could alleviated pathological injury 24 h after ischemiareperfusion. CONCLUSION These results indicated that cornin against astrocytes autophagy induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion through PI3 K/Akt/m TOR signaling pathway.     

Oridonin induces apoptosis of HeLa cells via altering expression of Bcl-2 ／ Bax and activating caspase-3 ／ ICAD pathway

INTRODUCTIONHerbal medicine, Donglingcao (rabdosiarubescens), has been traditionally used in China for thetreatment of various diseases such as leukemia.Oridonin (Fig 1) is a diterpenoid compound isolated fromRabdosia rubescens (hemsl). It has various pharmaco-logical and physiological effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, anti-tumor[1-3] and has beenused for the treatment of human cancers, especiallyFig 1. Chemical structure of oridonin.esophageal carcinoma[4]. This comp…     

Reactive oxygen species contribute to oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

Aim:

To investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells.

Methods:

The cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Morphological changes of apoptosis and autophagy were examined using Hoechst 33258 staining and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, respectively. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was measured using fluorescent dye rhodamine 123. DCF-induced fluorescence was used to measure the intracellular ROS level. Protein expression was examined using Western blot.

Results:

Treatment of HeLa cells with oridonin (20–160 μmol/L) inhibited the cell growth in time- and concentration-dependent manners. The cells treated with oridonin (80 μmol/L) for 24 h displayed marked DNA fragmentation and MDC-positive autophagosomes. In the presence of the specific autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (2 mmol/L), the oridonin-induced apoptosis was significantly enhanced. Treatment of HeLa cells with oridonin (20–120 μmol/L) induced intracellular ROS generation in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence of the ROS scavenger NAC (5 mmol/L), the oridinin-induced ROS generation was markedly reduced. NAC (5 mmol/L) or non-thiol antioxidant catalase (1000 U/mL) significantly reduced the oridonin-induced inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis. Furthermore, oridonin significantly reduced ΔΨm, which was blocked by NAC. Oridonin markedly increased Bax expression in mitochondria, and decreased Bcl-2 expression in both the cytosol and mitochondria. Oridonin also markedly increased the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 in the cytosol. All the effects were blocked by NAC. Oridonin increased the levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8, and decreased the expression of pro-caspase 3 and pro-caspase 9, which were blocked by NAC.

Conclusion:

ROS plays a critical role in oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy.     

Bcl-2 up-regulation and P-p53 down-regulation account for the low sensitivity of murine L929 fibrosarcoma cells to oridonin-induced apoptosis

Drug resistance has been a major limitation to chemotherapy. There are many mechanisms that contribute to such resistance. In our study, we subcloned oridonin-sensitive and low sensitive L929 cells and both types of cells grew at almost the same growth rate. The acquired low sensitivity to oridonin-induced apoptosis was associated with Bcl-2 up-regulation and down-regulation of p53 phosphorylation. The p38 inhibitor SB203580 decreased Bcl-2 expression in the low sensitive L929 cells and made the cells more sensitive to oridonin. Moreover, a higher dose of oridonin promoted p53 phosphorylation, increased Bax expression and subsequently induced death of low sensitive L929 cells, however, it had no effect on Bcl-2 expression. The increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio in oridonin low sensitive L929 cells did not inhibit caspase-9 or -3 activation, but suppressed the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), indicating the existence of caspase-9 or -3 independent PARP activation. These results indicated that in L929 cells, there was a relationship among the low sensitivity to oridonin, down-regulation of p53 phosphorylation and Bcl-2 up-regulation.     

冬凌草甲素通过诱导人宫颈癌HeLa细胞自噬下调凋亡的机制

研究冬凌草甲素通过诱导人宫颈癌HeLa细胞自噬拮抗凋亡的机制。MTT法测定冬凌草甲素对HeLa细胞的细胞毒作用。通过相差显微镜观察细胞形态学变化，用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测DNA片段化，用流式细胞仪检测细胞自噬和凋亡水平，用Western blotting检测分析药物对蛋白质表达的影响。冬凌草甲素明显抑制HeLa细胞的增殖，诱导HeLa细胞凋亡，同时诱导HeLa细胞发生自噬。Western blotting检测结果表明，冬凌草甲素作用24 h后，促凋亡蛋白Bax、细胞色素c和控制Bax活力的去乙酰化酶SIRT-1的表达明显改变。冬凌草甲素(64 μmol·L^-1)诱导的自噬通过影响SIRT-1和线粒体途径蛋白的表达下调凋亡。     

Rottlerin induces autophagy which leads to apoptotic cell death through inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in human pancreatic cancer stem cells

Multiple lines of evidence support the idea that autophagy plays an essential role in the development of drug resistance, self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenic potentials of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Rottlerin (ROT) is widely used as a protein kinase C-delta (PKC-δ) inhibitor. Recent studies revealed that ROT induces apoptosis through engagement of mitochondria. However, it is not known whether ROT-induced apoptosis is associated with other mechanisms such as autophagy. Here we found that ROT induced autophagy followed by induction of apoptosis via inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and activation of caspase cascade in human pancreatic CSCs. ROT induced a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell survival and induction of cytoplasmic vacuolations. The conversion of microtubule-associated protein LC3-I to LC3-II, and increased accumulations of Atg7 and Beclin-1 were also observed in CSCs treated with ROT. Prolonged exposure of CSCs to ROT eventually caused apoptosis which was associated with the suppression of phosphorylated Akt (Ser473) and mTOR (Ser2448), downregulation of XIAP, cIAP-1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-X_L, induction of Bax, activation of caspase-3 and -9, and concomitant degradation of PARP. ROT-induced apoptosis was enhanced by dominant negative AKT, Akt1/2 inhibitor, and rapamycin. Our study also demonstrates that gene silencing of Atg7 and Beclin1, or cotreatment of the autophagosome inhibitor, 3-methyladenine, inhibited ROT-induced autophagy and accelerated ROT-induced apoptosis. The knockdown of PKC-δ did not block ROT-induced autophagy and cell death, suggesting these effects of ROT were exerted through PKC-δ-independent pathway. In summary, our data demonstrate that ROT can induce autophagy which leads to cell death in pancreatic CSCs.     

Thapsigargin induces apoptosis when autophagy is inhibited in HepG2 cells and both processes are regulated by ROS-dependent pathway

Thapsigargin (TG), is widely used to induce endoplasmic reticular stress. Treated with TG for a long time, cells suffer the unfolded protein response (UPR) to elude apoptosis, but may activate autophagy. However, the switch between autophagy and apoptosis is unclear. To clarify the key signal for selection of these two protective responses, we studied the correlation of autophagy and apoptosis in HepG2 cells exposed to TG with time. TG induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was evidenced by typical cell morphological changes and the activation of caspase-12, caspase-9 and caspase-3. Meanwhile, cytochrome c was released following with the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased. TG-induced autophagy was confirmed by the accumulation of MDC, GFP-LC3 staining autophagic vacuoles, and the improved expression of LC3 II and Beclin-1. Additionally, inhibited autophagy via chloroquine (CQ) markedly enhanced the apoptosis induced by TG, which was linked to the Bcl-2 family. Furthermore, TG induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the ROS scavenger effectively suppressed TG-induced apoptosis and autophagy. All these results proved that restraint of autophagy may enhance TG-induced apoptosis through increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and both processes were regulated by ROS.     

Oridonin inhibited the tyrosine kinase activity and induced apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells

Oridonin, an active component isolated from the plant Rabdosia rubescens, has been reported to exhibit antitumor effects, but little is known about its molecular mechanism of action. In this study, we first investigated the mechanism involved in oridonin-induced cell death in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells, which overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). After treatment with various doses of oridonin for 24 h, the majority of A431 cells underwent apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner as measured by an LDH activity-based assay. Treatment with oridonin at various concentrations for 24 h caused significant inhibition on the total tyrosine kinase activities and downregulation of EGFR expression or EGFR phosphorylation. Oridonin significantly affected the localization of EGFR and phosphorylated EGFR on the cell membrane. However, genistein (a well-known tyrosine kinase inhibitor) did not induce apoptotic A431 cell death. Importantly, oridonin exhibited much stronger inhibitory effect on the total tyrosine kinase activities or EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation as well as much stronger suppression on EGFR and phosphorylated EGFR localization than genistein in A431 cells. Taken together, oridonin exerted a potential inhibitory effect on the tyrosine kinase activity of A431 cells. The decrease in the tyrosine kinase activity and the blockage of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation might be one of the causes of oridonin-induced A431 cell death.