Pancreatology. 2008;8(6):566-76. doi: 10.1159/000159843. Epub 2008 Sep 29.
Chen MJ1, Chang WH, Lin CC, Liu CY, Wang TE, Chu CH, Shih SC, Chen YJ.
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Abstract
AIMS:
This study aimed to investigate the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component isolated from honeybee propolis, in inducing apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells.
METHODS:
Inhibition of viability of BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cell lines induced by CAPE was estimated by a trypan blue dye exclusion test. The type of cell death in BxPC-3 after CAPE treatment was characterized by observation of morphology, sub-G1 DNA content, annexin-V/PI staining, caspase-3 and caspase-7 assay, and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.
RESULTS:
CAPE (10 microg/ml) resulted in marked inhibition of viability of BxPC-3 (80.4 +/- 4.1%) and PANC-1 (74.3 +/- 2.9%) cells. CAPE induced a time-dependent increase in hypodiploid percentage and a significant decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential in BxPC-3 cells. It induced morphological changes of typical apoptosis, but no DNA fragmentation was noted by DNA electrophoresis. The inhibition of growth and increased in the proportion of sub-G(1) cells was partially blocked by pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk (50 microM) in BxPC-3 cells indicating a caspase-related mechanism in CAPE-induced apoptosis. Caspase-3/caspase-7 activity was approximately 2 times greater in CAPE-treated BxPC-3 cells compared with control cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that CAPE is a potent apoptosis-inducing agent. Its action is accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of caspase-3/caspase-7.
Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP.
PMID: 18824880 DOI: 10.1159/000159843
[Indexed for MEDLINE]
* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.