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. 2016 Oct;12(4):2918-2923.
doi: 10.3892/ol.2016.4943. Epub 2016 Aug 3.

Anticancer effect of deoxypodophyllotoxin induces apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells

Sheng Hu  1 , Qiang Zhou  1 , Wan-Rui Wu  1 , Yi-Xing Duan  1 , Zhi-Yong Gao  1 , Yuan-Wei Li  1 , Qiang Lu  1
Affiliations

Anticancer effect of deoxypodophyllotoxin induces apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells

Sheng Hu et al. Oncol Lett. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPPT) is extracted and separated from citrus-related plants, including Podophyllum (P.) peltatum, P. pleianthum, P. emodi (also called P. hexandrum) and Diphylleia grayi. DPPT has significant antitumor and antiviral activity. However, due to its strong toxicity and side effects, its use is limited in practical applications. The in vitro antitumor efficacy of DPPT on human prostate cancer (PCa) cells remains to be determined. The present study investigated the anticancer effect of DPPT on human PCa cells and its potential mechanism. The data revealed that DPPT markedly reduced cell proliferation and activated the caspase-3 expression level by an increase in apoptotic cell death in DU-145 cells. In addition, treatment with DPPT markedly downregulated the levels of phosphorylated Akt and activated the p53/B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein (Bax)/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) signaling pathway in DU-145 cells, suggesting that caspase-mediated pathways were involved in DPPT-induced apoptosis. The present study suggested the role of DPPT as a novel chemotherapeutic drug for human PCa, which may function through the Akt/p53/Bax/PTEN signaling pathway.

Keywords: Akt/p53/Bax/PTEN; apoptosis; deoxypodophyllotoxin; human prostate cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemical structure of deoxypodophyllotoxin.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Anticancer effect of DPPT reduces cell viability of human prostate cancer cells. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Anticancer effect of DPPT induces cell apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Anticancer effect of DPPT induces caspase-3 activity in human prostate cancer cells. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
(A) Anticancer effect of DPPT reduces p-Akt protein expression in human prostate cancer cells, as indicated by western blot analysis. (B) Statistical analysis of p-Akt protein expression. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin; p-, phosphorylated.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
(A) Anticancer effect of DPPT induces p53 protein expression in human prostate cancer cells according to the results of western blot analysis. (B) Statistical analysis of p53 protein expression. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
(A) Anticancer effect of DPPT induces Bax protein expression in human prostate cancer cells, as determined by western blotting. (B) Statistical analysis of Bax protein expression. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin; Bax, B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
(A) Anticancer effect of DPPT increases PTEN protein expression in human prostate cancer cells, according to the results of western blotting. (B) Statistical analysis of PTEN protein expression. ##P<0.01 vs. 0 nM DPPT-treated group. DPPT, deoxypodophyllotoxin; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog.
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