Alantolactone Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest on Lung Squamous Cancer SK-MES-1 Cells

• Published in: Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology 2015-05, Vol.29 (5), p.199-206
• Main Authors: Zhao, Peng, Pan, Zhenxiang, Luo, Yungang, Zhang, Leilei, Li, Xin, Zhang, Guangxin, Zhang, Yifan, Cui, Ranji, Sun, Mei, Zhang, Xingyi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alantolactone; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Checkpoints - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Humans; Kinases; Lactones - administration & dosage; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane - administration & dosage; SK-MES-1 Cell
• ISSN: 1095-6670; 1099-0461
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.21685

ABSTRACT Alantolactone, a sesquiterpene lactone compound, has variety of pharmacological properties, including anti‐inflammatory and antineoplastic effects. In our study, alantolactone inhibited cancer cell proliferation. To explore the mechanisms underlying its antitumor action, we further examined apoptotic cells and cell cycle distribution using flow cytometry analysis. Alantolactone triggered apoptosis and induced cell cycle G1/G0 phase arrest. Furthermore, the expressions of caspases‐8, ‐9, ‐3, PARP, and Bax were significantly upregulated, while antiapoptotic factor Bcl‐2 expression was inhibited. In addition, the expressions of cyclin‐dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), CDK6, cyclin D3, and cyclin D1 were downregulated by alantolactone. Therefore, our findings indicated that alantolactone has an antiproliferative role on lung squamous cancer cells, and it may be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for squamous lung cancer SK‐MES‐1 cells.