RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Berberine Inhibits Human Neuroblastoma Cell Growth through Induction of p53-dependent Apoptosis
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 3777
OP 3784
VO 28
IS 6A
A1 CHOI, MYOUNG SUK
A1 YUK, DONG YEON
A1 OH, JU HOON
A1 JUNG, HAI YOUNG
A1 HAN, SANG BAE
A1 MOON, DONG CHEUL
A1 HONG, JIN TAE
YR 2008
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/6A/3777.abstract
AB Berberine, an alkaloid, has anti-tumor properties in some cancer cells, but action mechanisms are not clear yet. We here investigated the anticancer activity of berberine and possible mechanisms in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH and SK-N-MC cells. The p53-expressing cells, SK-N-SH (IC50=37 μM) were more susceptible to berberine than the p53-deficient cells, SK-N-MC (IC50≥100 μM) without cytotoxic effect on the cortical neuronal cells. Berberine caused cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and apoptotic cell death, and these effects were much greater in SK-N-SH cells than those in SK-N-MC cells. Berberine much greatly decreased G0/G1 phase-associated cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase (cyclin D1, cyclin E, Cdk2, and Cdk4) expression, and increased apoptotic gene expression and activation of caspase-3 in SK-N-SH cells. Exploration of p53 siRNA or pifithrin-α (PFT-α), a p53 inhibitor, in the SK-N-SH cells resulted in increase of IC50 values for cell viability, and decreased apoptotic cell death, expression of p53 and activation of caspase-3. Therefore, these results showed that berberine causes p53-dependent apoptotic death of neuroblastoma cells, and suggested that berberine may be useful as an anticancer agent for neuroblastoma. Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved