The natural triterpene maslinic acid induces apoptosis in HT29 colon cancer cells by a JNK-p53-dependent mechanism
2011

Maslinic Acid Induces Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cells

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Fernando J Reyes-Zurita, Gisela Pachón-Peña, Daneida Lizárraga, Eva E Rufino-Palomares, Marta Cascante, José A Lupiáñez

Primary Institution: University of Granada

Hypothesis

Does maslinic acid induce apoptosis in HT29 colon cancer cells through a JNK-p53-dependent mechanism?

Conclusion

Maslinic acid induces apoptosis in HT29 colon-cancer cells via the JNK-Bid-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through the activation of p53.

Supporting Evidence

  • Maslinic acid significantly increases genotoxicity in HT29 cells.
  • Treatment with maslinic acid leads to cell-cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase.
  • Maslinic acid activates JNK and p53, which are crucial for apoptosis.
  • An increase in pro-apoptotic proteins like Bax and Bid was observed.
  • Bcl-2 expression was repressed, facilitating apoptosis.
  • Cytochrome-c release and caspase activation were induced by maslinic acid.

Takeaway

Maslinic acid, a natural compound from olives, helps kill colon cancer cells by making them self-destruct through a special process involving certain proteins.

Methodology

HT29 adenocarcinoma cells were treated with maslinic acid, and various assays including comet assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting were used to analyze genotoxicity, cell cycle changes, and protein expression.

Limitations

Further studies with other cell lines are needed to confirm the general nature of these findings.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-11-154

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