Induction of apoptosis in a non-small cell human lung cancer cell line by isothiocyanates is associated with P53 and P21

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2004-10, Vol.42 (10), p.1711-1718
• Main Authors: Kuang, Yu-Fang, Chen, Yue-Hwa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Annexin A5 - metabolism; anticarcinogenic activity; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; apoptotic cell regulation; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; cell culture; Cell Division - drug effects; cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; cell lines; cell proliferation; chemical composition; chemoprevention; cole crops; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Flow Cytometry; gene expression regulation; Genes, p53 - drug effects; Genes, p53 - genetics; glucosinolates; Humans; Indole-3-carbinol; indoles; Indoles - therapeutic use; Isothiocyanate; isothiocyanates; Isothiocyanates - therapeutic use; Lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells; lung neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Oncogene Protein p21(ras) - genetics; P21; P53; Phosphatidylserines - metabolism; phytochemicals; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; regulatory proteins; Toxicology; vegetable extracts
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2004.06.009

This study was aimed at examining the effects of glucosinolate derivatives including phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and indole-3-carbinol (I3C), on the induction of apoptosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma A549 cells. The results indicated that all tested compounds inhibited the growth of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analyses and annexin V staining showed that induction of apoptosis occurred at low concentrations of PEITC and BITC (⩽10 μM), and that necrosis occurred at higher concentrations of PEITC and BITC (25 μM); however, apoptosis was not the major pathway for the antiproliferative effects of I3C. Furthermore, Western blot analyses demonstrated that increased expression of P53 and P21 proteins, but not Bax protein, were associated with PEITC- and BITC-induced apoptosis.