Icariin induces apoptosis in mouse MLTC-10 Leydig tumor cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and down-regulation of the expression of piwil4

  • Authors:
    • Qi Wang
    • Jie Hao
    • Jun Pu
    • Lina Zhao
    • Zhilan Lü
    • Jiangang Hu
    • Qiubo Yu
    • Yingxiong Wang
    • Yi Xie
    • Gang Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 17, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1086
  • Pages: 973-980
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Abstract

The Leydig cell tumor, derived from interstitial cells, is a rare neoplasm. In most cases, Leydig cell tumors are benign, however, if the tumor is malignant, no effective treatments are currently available. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of icariin on the growth of the mouse Leydig tumor cell line MLTC-1 and to examine its underlying mechanism. Icariin caused a dose-dependent decrease in the viability of MLTC-1 cells, which coincided with an increase in cell apoptosis through regulation of the expression of Bcl-2/Bax and cytochrome c, activation of caspase-9 and -3. Moreover, the pro-apoptotic effect of icariin on MLTC-1 cells is related to piwil4, since icariin induced a decrease in piwil4 protein expression and piwil4 silencing significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effects of icariin in MLTC-1 cells. These findings suggest a novel anticancer effect of icariin in Leydig cell tumor through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and down-regulation of the expression of piwil4.

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October 2011
Volume 39 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Wang Q, Hao J, Pu J, Zhao L, Lü Z, Hu J, Yu Q, Wang Y, Xie Y, Li G, Li G, et al: Icariin induces apoptosis in mouse MLTC-10 Leydig tumor cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and down-regulation of the expression of piwil4. Int J Oncol 39: 973-980, 2011
APA
Wang, Q., Hao, J., Pu, J., Zhao, L., Lü, Z., Hu, J. ... Li, G. (2011). Icariin induces apoptosis in mouse MLTC-10 Leydig tumor cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and down-regulation of the expression of piwil4. International Journal of Oncology, 39, 973-980. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1086
MLA
Wang, Q., Hao, J., Pu, J., Zhao, L., Lü, Z., Hu, J., Yu, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, Y., Li, G."Icariin induces apoptosis in mouse MLTC-10 Leydig tumor cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and down-regulation of the expression of piwil4". International Journal of Oncology 39.4 (2011): 973-980.
Chicago
Wang, Q., Hao, J., Pu, J., Zhao, L., Lü, Z., Hu, J., Yu, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, Y., Li, G."Icariin induces apoptosis in mouse MLTC-10 Leydig tumor cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and down-regulation of the expression of piwil4". International Journal of Oncology 39, no. 4 (2011): 973-980. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1086