P38 MAP Kinase Mediates Apoptosis After Genipin Treatment in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer H1299 Cells via a Mitochondrial Apoptotic Cascade

Yang Xue, Yao Jie, Luo Yue, Han Yongguang, Wang Zuobai, Du Linfang

doi:10.1254/jphs.12234fp

Genipin, an active constituent of Gardenia fruit, has been reported to show an anti-tumor effect in several cancer cell systems. Here, we demonstrate how genipin exhibits a strong apoptotic cell death effect in human non–small-cell lung cancer H1299 cells. Genipin-mediated decrease in cell viability was observed through apoptosis as demonstrated by induction of a sub-G₁ peak through flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation measured by TUNEL assay, and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose-polymerase. During genipin-induced apoptosis, the mitochondrial execution pathway was activated by caspase-9 and -3 activation as examined by a kinetic study, cytochrome c release, and a dose-dependent increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. A search for the downstream pathway reveals that genipin-induced apoptosis was mediated by an increase in phosphorylated p38MAPK expression, which further activated downstream signaling by phosphorylating ATF-2. SB203580, a p38MAPK inhibitor, markedly blocked the formation of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells in genipin-treated cells. Besides, the interference of p38MAPK inhibited Bax expression and cytochrome c release. Altogether, our observations imply that genipin causes increased levels of Bax in response to p38MAPK signaling, which results in the initiation of mitochondrial death cascade, and therefore it holds promise as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of H1299 cells.

P38 MAP Kinase Mediates Apoptosis After Genipin Treatment in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer H1299 Cells via a Mitochondrial Apoptotic Cascade

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