Oleuropein induces apoptosis via activation of caspases and suppression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in HepG2 human hepatoma cell line

  • Authors:
    • Chun‑Mei Yan
    • Er‑Qing Chai
    • Hong‑Yi Cai
    • Guo‑Ying Miao
    • Wen Ma
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 28, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3266
  • Pages: 4617-4624
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Abstract

Oleuropein is a polyphenol, that is found in extra‑virgin olive oil. Previous studies have shown that oleuropein inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in breast cancer, colorectal cancer and thyroid cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of oleuropein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The results of Cell Counting Kit 8 and flow cytometric analysis indicated that oleuropein effectively inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatoma cells in a dose‑dependent manner, through activation of the caspase pathway. Proapoptotic Bcl‑2 family members, BAX and Bcl‑2, were involved in oleuropein‑induced apoptosis. The phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway was also shown to be involved in this process. Oleuropein was demonstrated to suppress the expression of activated AKT. In addition, AKT overexpression promoted cell survival following treatment with oleuropein, while inhibition of AKT promoted cell death. Furthermore, the data demonstrated that oleuropein induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that the function of oleuropein is, at least partially, ROS‑dependent. These results suggest that oleuropein may be a promising novel chemotherapeutic agent in hepatocellular carcinoma.
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June-2015
Volume 11 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Yan CM, Chai EQ, Cai HY, Miao GY and Ma W: Oleuropein induces apoptosis via activation of caspases and suppression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in HepG2 human hepatoma cell line. Mol Med Rep 11: 4617-4624, 2015
APA
Yan, C., Chai, E., Cai, H., Miao, G., & Ma, W. (2015). Oleuropein induces apoptosis via activation of caspases and suppression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in HepG2 human hepatoma cell line. Molecular Medicine Reports, 11, 4617-4624. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3266
MLA
Yan, C., Chai, E., Cai, H., Miao, G., Ma, W."Oleuropein induces apoptosis via activation of caspases and suppression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in HepG2 human hepatoma cell line". Molecular Medicine Reports 11.6 (2015): 4617-4624.
Chicago
Yan, C., Chai, E., Cai, H., Miao, G., Ma, W."Oleuropein induces apoptosis via activation of caspases and suppression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in HepG2 human hepatoma cell line". Molecular Medicine Reports 11, no. 6 (2015): 4617-4624. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3266