Matrine induces apoptosis in gastric carcinoma cells via alteration of Fas/FasL and activation of caspase-3

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 123; no. 1; pp. 91 - 96
• Main Authors: Dai, Zhi-jun, Gao, Jie, Ji, Zong-zheng, Wang, Xi-jing, Ren, Hong-tao, Liu, Xiao-xu, Wu, Wen-ying, Kang, Hua-feng, Guan, Hai-tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 04.05.2009; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: alkaloids; Alkaloids - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; carcinoma; caspase; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase-3; Cell Line, Tumor; cell lines; cell proliferation; dosage; dose response; Enzyme Activation; Fas Ligand Protein - metabolism; fas Receptor - metabolism; Fas/FasL; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gastric carcinoma; General pharmacology; Humans; Matrine; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quinolizines - pharmacology; Sophora flavescens; stomach neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms - enzymology; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach Neoplasms - ultrastructure; temporal variation; transmission electron microscopy; Fas/FasL; Gastric carcinoma; Matrine; Caspase-3; Apoptosis; Enzyme; Pharmacognosy; Lactam; Caspase; Malignant tumor; Medicinal plant; Peptidases; Stomach carcinoma; Alkaloid; Cell death; Plant origin; Hydrolases; Digestive diseases; Tumor cell; Cancer; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.02.022

Matrine, an alkaloid purified from the chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, is well known to possess activities including anti-inflammation, anti-fibrotic and anticancer. In this study, the mechanism of matrine inducing the apoptosis of gastric carcinoma cells was investigated. Proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was examined by MTT assay. Cellular morphology was observed under transmission electron microscope. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to observe the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells by staining with annexinV-FITC/PI. The expression levels of Fas/FasL in SGC-7901 cells were monitored by FCM analysis using an indirect immunoflurenscence method. Activity of caspase-3 enzyme was measured by spectrofluorometry. MTT assay showed that matrine inhibited SGC-7901 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis induction was demonstrated by morphological changes under electron microscope and FCM analysis. Florescence intensity levels of Fas and FasL were found to be equally up-regulated after matrine treatment, which were both correlated with apoptosis rate. The activity of caspase-3 enzyme increased in matrine groups, positively correlated with apoptosis rate. Matrine could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in vitro. The apoptosis induction appears to proceed by up-regulating Fas/FasL expression and activating caspase-3 enzyme.