Betulin induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis in colon cancer cells via NOXA

  • Authors:
    • Zhiyuan Zhou
    • Chenfang Zhu
    • Zhongfang Cai
    • Liu He
    • Feng Zhao
    • Xiaolou Lou
    • Xiaoliang Qi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 6, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8183
  • Pages: 7319-7327
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Abstract

Betulin is a common triterpene that can be readily obtained from various plants, particularly birch trees, in their natural environment. Specific tumor cells are sensitive to betulin, whereas healthy cells are not. Betulin was observed to stimulate programmed cell death of various cancer cell lines; however, the precise molecular mechanism of action of betulin remains unknown. The present study used colon cancer cells, in which mass apoptosis triggered by betulin was identified, and the apoptotic process was demonstrated to occur via the activation of caspase‑3 and ‑9 pathways. In addition, release of cytochrome c was detected. Furthermore, the pro‑apoptotic member of the Bcl‑2 protein family, NOXA, was induced following treatment with betulin, and the downregulation of NOXA markedly suppressed the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Conversely, the overexpression of NOXA further enhanced betulin‑induced apoptosis. The present study therefore offers novel insights into the mechanism of action of the natural compound betulin against tumors.
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May-2018
Volume 15 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Zhou Z, Zhu C, Cai Z, He L, Zhao F, Lou X and Qi X: Betulin induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis in colon cancer cells via NOXA. Oncol Lett 15: 7319-7327, 2018
APA
Zhou, Z., Zhu, C., Cai, Z., He, L., Zhao, F., Lou, X., & Qi, X. (2018). Betulin induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis in colon cancer cells via NOXA. Oncology Letters, 15, 7319-7327. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8183
MLA
Zhou, Z., Zhu, C., Cai, Z., He, L., Zhao, F., Lou, X., Qi, X."Betulin induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis in colon cancer cells via NOXA". Oncology Letters 15.5 (2018): 7319-7327.
Chicago
Zhou, Z., Zhu, C., Cai, Z., He, L., Zhao, F., Lou, X., Qi, X."Betulin induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis in colon cancer cells via NOXA". Oncology Letters 15, no. 5 (2018): 7319-7327. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8183