Induction of Apoptosis and Transient Increase of Phosphorylated MAPKs by Diallyl Disulfide Treatment in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma CNE2 Cells

• Published in: Archives of pharmacal research Vol. 29; no. 12; pp. 1125 - 1131
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yi Wei, Wen, Jun, Xiao, Jian Bo, Talbot, Simon G, Li, Gloria C, Xu, Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한약학회 01.12.2006
• Subjects: 약학; Anticancer effect; Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells; Diallyl disulfide (DADS); Cell cycle; Phosphorylated MAPKs; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0253-6269; 1976-3786

This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS), an oil-soluble organosulfur compound found in garlic, in suppressing human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. A potent increase (of at least 9-fold) in apoptotic cells has accompanied 1) a decrease in cell viability, 2) a increase of the fraction of S-phase cells by up to 63.8%, and 3) a transient increase of the phospho-p38 and phospho-p42/44 (phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK) in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that DADS can induce apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via, at least partly, S-phase block of the cell cycle, related to a rise in MAPK phosphorylation.