Esculetin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human colon cancer LoVo cells

Environ Toxicol. 2019 Oct;34(10):1129-1136. doi: 10.1002/tox.22815. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Abstract

We investigated the anti-cancer effects of ESC in human colon cancer LoVo cells. Cell counting assay results showed that ESC inhibited the proliferation of LoVo cells. Cell cycle arrest results showed that cell cycle was arrested during the G0/G1 phase in the ESC-treated LoVo cells. Western blot results showed that the cell cycle inhibitory proteins p53, p27, and p21 were increased, and cyclin D1, the cell cycle progressive protein, was decreased. Sp1 is a transcription factor regulating cell proliferation, was decreased in the ESC-treated LoVo cells. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining results showed that ESC induces apoptosis in LoVo cells. Western blot results showed that Bax, cleaved caspase -3, -7, -9, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which are proapoptotic proteins, were increased and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased. Taken together, ESC induced apoptosis and has an anti-cancer effect in LoVo cells.

Keywords: apoptosis; cell cycle; colon cancer cell; esculetin.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Caspase 3 / genetics
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / genetics
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Umbelliferones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • BCL2 protein, human
  • CCND1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Umbelliferones
  • Cyclin D1
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3
  • esculetin