Abstract B47: External Qi of Yan Xin Qigong induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colon cancer cells through regulation of multiple signaling pathways

Abstract

Abstract The concept external Qi of Qigong refers to the technology and ability of “Qi deployment” therapy and health preservation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). External Qi therapy of TCM has long been one of the medical practices in China. Long-term clinical observations and ongoing studies have shown positive effects of external Qi of Yan Xin Qigong (YXQ-EQ) on patients of various types of cancer. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying YXQ-EQ's antitumor effects have recently begun to be addressed. In the present study we investigated YXQ-EQ's effects on the growth and apoptosis of human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells. We show that YXQ-EQ treatment reduced the viability and inhibited clonogenic growth of HT-29 cells. In agreement, YXQ-EQ induced cell cycle G1 arrest and apoptosis in HT-29 cells. YXQ-EQ induced apoptosis is accompanied by DNA fragmentation and cleavage of procaspase-3 and -9 and poly(ribose-ADP) polymerase. YXQ-EQ inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3β, decreased the levels of cyclin D1 and hyper-phosphorylated Rb, and repressed the expression of antiapoptic proteins Bcl-XL, XIAP, and survivin. Concomitantly, YXQ-EQ increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21CIP1/WAF1. These findings suggest that YXQ-EQ may induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colon cancer cells through regulation of multiple signaling pathways that play important roles in cell proliferation, survival and apoptosis. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B47.