Pomolic acid induces apoptosis in SK-OV-3 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells through the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic and death receptor-induced extrinsic pathways

• Published in: Oncology letters Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 386 - 390
• Main Authors: YOO, KI HYUN, PARK, JONG-HWA, LEE, DO KYUNG, FU, YUAN YUAN, BAEK, NAM IN, CHUNG, IN SIK
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece D.A. Spandidos 01.01.2013; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd
• Subjects: Acids; Apoptosis; Cell culture; Cell cycle; Chromatography; Cytotoxicity; death receptor; Leukemia; Melanoma; Mitochondria; mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm); Oncology; pomolic acid; SK-OV-3 cells; Studies; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; United States > US
• ISSN: 1792-1074; 1792-1082
• DOI: 10.3892/ol.2012.985

The cytotoxic effect of pomolic acid (PA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from flowers of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus Makino, was investigated in SK-OV-3 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells. PA dose-dependently inhibited the viability of SK-OV-3 cells. PA-induced apoptosis was further characterized by detection of cell surface annexin V and sub-G1 apoptotic cell populations. The number of cells immunostained with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) increased following treatment with PA. The sub-G1 cell populations also increased in PA-treated SK-OV-3 cells. PA induced the activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3, critical mediators of apoptosis signaling. PA decreased the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), resulting in the activation of caspase-9. In addition, PA increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis signaling-related death receptor 5 (DR5), mediating caspase-8-involved extrinsic pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that PA induces apoptosis in SK-OV-3 cells, which is mediated by the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic and death receptor-induced extrinsic pathways.