Induction of Bax and activation of caspases during β-sitosterol-mediated apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Yung Hyun Choi
    • Kyu Ri Kong
    • Young-Ae Kim
    • Keun-Ok Jung
    • Jeong-Ha Kil
    • Sook-Hee Rhee
    • Kun-Young Park
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 1, 2003     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.23.6.1657
  • Pages: 1657-1662
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Abstract

β-sitosterol, a main dietary phytosterol found in plants, may have the potential for prevention and therapy for human cancer. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of β-sitosterol on the growth of HT116 human colon cancer cells. Treatment with β-sitosterol resulted in a dose-dependent growth inhibition coupled with the characteristic morphological features of apoptosis and with the increase of a sub-G1 cell population. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of β-sitosterol induced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation accompanied by proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase. In addition, β-sitosterol-induced apoptosis in HT116 cells was associated with a decreased expression of the anti-apototic Bcl-2 protein and mRNA and a concomitant increase of the pro-apototic Bax protein and mRNA, and with release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol. β-sitosterol treatment also inhibited the expression of cIAP-1 without significant changes in the level of cIAP-2. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of β-sitosterol.

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December 2003
Volume 23 Issue 6

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Choi YH, Kong KR, Kim Y, Jung K, Kil J, Rhee S and Park K: Induction of Bax and activation of caspases during β-sitosterol-mediated apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. Int J Oncol 23: 1657-1662, 2003
APA
Choi, Y.H., Kong, K.R., Kim, Y., Jung, K., Kil, J., Rhee, S., & Park, K. (2003). Induction of Bax and activation of caspases during β-sitosterol-mediated apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 23, 1657-1662. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.23.6.1657
MLA
Choi, Y. H., Kong, K. R., Kim, Y., Jung, K., Kil, J., Rhee, S., Park, K."Induction of Bax and activation of caspases during β-sitosterol-mediated apoptosis in human colon cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 23.6 (2003): 1657-1662.
Chicago
Choi, Y. H., Kong, K. R., Kim, Y., Jung, K., Kil, J., Rhee, S., Park, K."Induction of Bax and activation of caspases during β-sitosterol-mediated apoptosis in human colon cancer cells". International Journal of Oncology 23, no. 6 (2003): 1657-1662. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.23.6.1657