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Published on: October 5, 2012
Butein, a plant polyphenol, induces apoptosis concomitant with increased caspase-3 activity, decreased Bcl-2
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wonkwang University Medical School and Medicinal Resources Research Center of Wonkwang University, Chonbuk, Korea.
Abstract:
In the present study we have investigated whether butein could induce apoptosis in human leukaemic HL-60 cells. The treatment of HL-60 cells with butein induced apoptotic cell death as determined by morphological and biochemical changes. Apoptotic DNA fragments in the butein-treated HL-60 cells were increased gradually as determined by flow cytometric analysis. The caspase-3 activity was increased during butein-induced apoptosis. However, caspase-3 inhibitor abrogated the butein-induced DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, the treatment of HL-60 cells with butein decreased the expression of Bcl-2 protein, but increased the expression of Bax protein. These results suggest that butein-induced apoptosis is mediated through the activation of caspase-3 and it is associated with changed expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.
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