beta-escin and Kidney-Neoplasms

Escin, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound, exhibits antitumor effects on various types of human cancer cells, but its effect on human renal cancer cells has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrated that escin elicits cytotoxic effects on human renal cancer cells (786-O and Caki-1) in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by MTT assay. Escin induced G2/M arrest, and then increased the sub-G1 population, Annexin V binding, activation of caspase-9/-3, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Bax protein. Escin also decreased the anti-apoptotic protein levels of Bcl-2, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and survivin. In addition, escin induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, leading to mitochondrial membrane potential dysfunction and inducing apoptosis in 786-O renal cancer cells, which were suppressed by antioxidants, such as NAC. Collectively, our results suggest that escin induces apoptosis via the intrinsic-mitochondrial apoptosis pathway through G2/M arrest and ROS generation in human renal cancer cells. Escin appears to have potential as a clinically useful chemotherapeutic agent for human renal cancer.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Caspases; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Escin; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Mitochondria; Reactive Oxygen Species; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein

Agents that can enhance tumor cell apoptosis and inhibit invasion have potential for the treatment of cancer. Here, we report the identification of escin, a pentacyclic triterpenoid from horse chestnut that exhibits antitumor potential against leukemia and multiple myeloma. Whether examined by esterase staining, phosphatidyl-serine staining, DNA breakage, or caspase-mediated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, escin potentiated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis but inhibited tumor cell invasion. This correlated with the down-regulation of bcl-2, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2, cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are all regulated by the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. When examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, the triterpenoid suppressed nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation induced by TNF and other inflammatory agents, and this correlated with the inhibition of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation, inhibition of IkappaB kinase complex (IKK) activation, suppression of p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and abrogation of NF-kappaB-dependent reporter activity. Overall, our results demonstrate that escin inhibits activation of NF-kappaB through inhibition of IKK, leading to down-regulation of NF-kappaB-regulated cell survival and metastatic gene products and thus resulting in sensitization of cells to cytokines and chemotherapeutic agents.

Topics: Annexin A5; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA Primers; Escin; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Mutagenesis; Neoplasm Invasiveness; NF-kappa B; Signal Transduction; Transcription, Genetic