Ethyl alcohol extracts of Hizikia fusiforme sensitize AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis

J Med Food. 2009 Aug;12(4):782-7. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2008.1114.

Abstract

Resistance to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis has been reported in some cancer cells, including AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Hizikia fusiforme is a commonly used brown seaweed species in Korea that possesses potent antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we demonstrated that treatment with TRAIL in combination with subtoxic concentrations of ethyl alcohol extract of H. fusiforme (EAHF) sensitized TRAIL-resistant AGS cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Combined treatment with EAHF and TRAIL increased chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and sub-G1-phase DNA content. The restored sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis appeared to be correlated with the modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins and activation of caspases, which resulted in the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase. Taken together, the use of EAHF in combination with TRAIL may be an effective and selective anticancer strategy via suppressing the resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in some tumor cell lines, including AGS cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Korea
  • Ligands
  • Phaeophyceae*
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / pharmacology
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / therapeutic use*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Chromatin
  • Ligands
  • Plant Extracts
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • DNA
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
  • Caspases