Pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of MAPKs in human skin cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Hyo-Eun Yoon
    • Seone-Hee Oh
    • Soo-A Kim
    • Jung-Hoon Yoon
    • Sang-Gun Ahn
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 19, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2013.2856
  • Pages: 137-144
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Abstract

Pheophorbide a (Pa), a chlorophyll derivative, is a photosensitizer that can induce significant antitumor effects in several types of tumor cells. The present study investigated the mechanism of Pa-mediated photodynamic therapy (Pa-PDT) in the human skin cancer cell lines A431 and G361. PDT significantly inhibited the cell growth in a Pa-concentration-dependent manner. We observed increased expression of Beclin-1, LC3B and ATG5, which are markers of autophagy, after PDT treatment in A431 cells but not in G361 cells. In G361 cells, Pa-PDT strongly induced PARP cleavage and subsequent apoptosis, which was confirmed using Annexin V/Propidium iodide double staining. Pa-PDT predominantly exhibited its antitumor effects via activation of ERK1/2 and p38 in A431 and G361 cells, respectively. An in vivo study using the CAM xenograft model demonstrated that Pa-PDT strongly induced autophagy and apoptosis in A431-transplanted tumors and/or apoptosis in G361-transplanted tumors. These results may provide a basis for understanding the underlying mechanisms of Pa-PDT and for developing Pa-PDT as a therapy for skin cancer.
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2014-January
Volume 31 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Yoon H, Oh S, Kim S, Yoon J and Ahn S: Pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of MAPKs in human skin cancer cells. Oncol Rep 31: 137-144, 2014
APA
Yoon, H., Oh, S., Kim, S., Yoon, J., & Ahn, S. (2014). Pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of MAPKs in human skin cancer cells. Oncology Reports, 31, 137-144. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2013.2856
MLA
Yoon, H., Oh, S., Kim, S., Yoon, J., Ahn, S."Pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of MAPKs in human skin cancer cells". Oncology Reports 31.1 (2014): 137-144.
Chicago
Yoon, H., Oh, S., Kim, S., Yoon, J., Ahn, S."Pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of MAPKs in human skin cancer cells". Oncology Reports 31, no. 1 (2014): 137-144. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2013.2856