Puerarin induced in mantle cell lymphoma apoptosis and its possible mechanisms involving multi-signaling pathway

This research designed to explore the antitumor activity of puerarin against human mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by MTS and flow cytometry. Caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were assessed with the colorimetric caspase protease assay. Apoptotic proteins like PARP, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 family, XIAP, and cIAP I were researched by western blot. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was used to investigate the possible mechanism relating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Puerarin in vitro inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of Z138 cells. Expressions of PI3K and p-Akt were downregulated by puerarin. Puerarin negatively regulated NF-κB activity by inhibiting NF-κB phosphorylation with nuclear translocation inhibition. This kind of effects was correlated with the suppression of expression of cyclin D1, BAX, Bcl-2, XIAP etc. This function was modulated by the PI3K inhibitor. Our results demonstrated that puerarin can induce growth arrest and apoptosis in MCL cells and that the mechanism may involve the NF-κB signaling pathway. Puerarin may have therapeutic applications in the treatment of MCL.