Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

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Apoptosis, Cell Growth, and Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Phosphorylation in Caffeic Acid-Treated Human Malignant

Yoon-Jin Lee1,2, Ki Dam Kim3, Min Hyuk Choi3

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31151, Republic of Korea.

Biomedicines
|October 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Caffeic acid (CA) shows anticancer effects against melanoma by activating the p53 pathway, not by affecting GSK3β signaling. This natural compound reduces melanoma cell viability and induces apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Caffeic acid (CA), a phenolic compound, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with demonstrated anticancer activity.
  • The precise role of CA in melanoma and its impact on the GSK3β signaling pathway require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of phosphorylated GSK3β (p-GSK3β) in melanoma tissues.
  • To evaluate the anti-melanoma efficacy of caffeic acid (CA).

Main Methods:

  • Western blot analysis was used to quantify p-GSK3β levels in melanoma and normal skin samples.
  • G361 melanoma cells were treated with CA to assess cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and signaling molecule expression.

Main Results:

  • Melanoma tissues exhibited significantly elevated levels of p-GSK3β compared to normal skin.
  • CA treatment reduced G361 melanoma cell viability, induced apoptosis, and increased p-GSK3β expression.
  • CA upregulated p53 and p21 while downregulating cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 in melanoma cells.

Conclusions:

  • Caffeic acid inhibits melanoma cell proliferation and induces apoptosis.
  • The anti-melanoma effects of CA are mediated through the activation of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway.
  • CA's mechanism does not appear to involve the modulation of GSK3β signaling in melanoma.
Keywords:
GSK3β signalingapoptosiscaffeic acidmelanoma

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