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Ursolic Acid-Induced Apoptosis via Regulation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Huh-7 Cells

Kwong-Chiu Lee1, Yao-Li Chen2,3,4, Ping-Yi Lin5

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 50006, Taiwan. 75102@cch.org.tw.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 15, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Ursolic acid (UA) effectively inhibits human hepatoma Huh-7 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. This triterpene acid modulates key signaling pathways, offering potential therapeutic insights for liver cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural triterpene with diverse biological activities.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant global health challenge.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of natural compounds like UA in cancer is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of Ursolic acid (UA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma Huh-7 cells.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular signaling pathways modulated by UA.

Main Methods:

  • Cell viability was assessed using MTT assays.
  • Apoptosis was detected via DAPI staining and Annexin V/PI analysis.
  • Protein expression levels and signaling pathway activation were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • UA significantly reduced Huh-7 cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
  • UA induced apoptosis by affecting both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, altering Bcl-2 family proteins and activating caspases.
  • UA modulated key signaling pathways, including inhibition of p-Akt and p38 MAPK, and activation of p-ERK.

Conclusions:

  • Ursolic acid (UA) exhibits potent anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on human hepatoma Huh-7 cells.
  • UA exerts its effects by regulating critical cellular signaling transduction pathways.
  • UA demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Keywords:
MAPK pathwayPARPPI3K/Aktapoptosiscaspase-3huh-7ursolic acid

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