Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Myoung Suk Choi
    • Ju Hoon Oh
    • Sun Mi Kim
    • Hai Young Jung
    • Hwan Soo Yoo
    • Yong Moon Lee
    • Dong Cheul Moon
    • Sang Bae Han
    • Jin Tae Hong
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 1, 2009     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000250
  • Pages: 1221-1230
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Abstract

Berberine has anti-tumor properties in some cancer cells including prostate cancer, but the exact mechanisms and in vivo effects are unclear. We investigated anti-cancer activity of berberine in vitro and in vivo, and possible mechanisms in prostate cancer cells. Berberine treatment inhibited cell cancer growth in a concentration (0-50 µM) and time- (0-48 h) dependent manner without any growth inhibition in normal human prostate epithelial PWR-1E cells. However, the p53 expressing LNCaP cells were more susceptible against berberine than the p53 lacking PC-3 cells. The cell arrest in G0/G1 phase, apoptotic cell death and the expression of apoptotic cell death proteins Bax and caspase-3 was much higher in berberine-treated LNCaP cells than those in PC-3 cells. Exploration of p53 siRNA or pifithrin-α, a p53 inhibitor to the LNCaP cells, suppressed berberine-induced cell death and expression of apoptosis-related proteins. In xenograft in vivo studies, berberine reduced tumor weights and volumes accompanied with apoptotic cell death and increased expression of apoptotic cell death proteins, however, the extent of inhibitory effect was more significant in LNCaP cell-bearing mice. Therefore, these results indicated that berberine inhibited p53-dependent prostate cancer cell death.

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May 2009
Volume 34 Issue 5

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Choi MS, Oh JH, Kim SM, Jung HY, Yoo HS, Lee YM, Moon DC, Han SB and Hong JT: Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. Int J Oncol 34: 1221-1230, 2009
APA
Choi, M.S., Oh, J.H., Kim, S.M., Jung, H.Y., Yoo, H.S., Lee, Y.M. ... Hong, J.T. (2009). Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 34, 1221-1230. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000250
MLA
Choi, M. S., Oh, J. H., Kim, S. M., Jung, H. Y., Yoo, H. S., Lee, Y. M., Moon, D. C., Han, S. B., Hong, J. T."Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 34.5 (2009): 1221-1230.
Chicago
Choi, M. S., Oh, J. H., Kim, S. M., Jung, H. Y., Yoo, H. S., Lee, Y. M., Moon, D. C., Han, S. B., Hong, J. T."Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 34, no. 5 (2009): 1221-1230. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000250