Apoptosis-inducing effect of Tanshinone and its molecular mechanism on human lung cancer cells

Abstract

To study the apoptosis-inducing effect of Tanshinone and its molecular mechanism on human lung cancer cells. Human lung cancer cell line (SPC-A-1) was treated in vitro with 0.5 mg/L Tanshinone IIA for five days, and the cells treated with all trans retinoic acid (RA) or DDP as controls. Changes in cell morphology, apoptotic index and apoptosis related gene expression were detected by electron microscope, FCM and DNA-end-labeling. Many apoptotic cells were observed by light and electron microscopes. FCM examination showed that apoptotic index in Tanshinone group was much higher than that of DDP and control groups, but no difference was found statistically compared with RA group. The expression of p53, Fas and Bax genes in Tanshinone group was up-regulated markedly, but Bcl-2 was obviously down-regulated. Tanshinone IIA can induce apoptosis in human lung cancer cell line (SPC-A-1) . Up-regulating expression of p53, Bax, Fas and down-regulating Bcl-2 expression might be its molecular mechanisms.