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Tounong Powder (透脓散) extracts induce G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in LoVo cells

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Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To further explore the anti-cancer effect of Tounong Powder (透脓散) extracts (TNSEs) on human colon cancer LoVo cells and examine the possible molecular mechanisms.

Methods

The contents of TNSEs were determined by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) analysis after extraction with water and methanol. Variations of cell morphological features were observed using fluorescence microscopy. Cytotoxicity was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry at different TNSE doses (0, 62.5, 125, or 250 μg/mL). Protein expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphate protein kinase B (p-AKT), phosphate mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), p-p70s6k1, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 were detected using Western blot analysis.

Results

TNSEs induced cell growth inhibition in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed apoptotic cells and cell cycle arrest at the G phase after TNSEs treatment compared with controls. Furthermore, TNSEs significantly down-regulated the proteins PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-p70s6k1, and up-regulated the proteins cleaved caspase-9 and -3 dosedependently, as determined by Western blot.

Conclusions

TNSEs reduced LoVo cell proliferation, and caused apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in LoVo cells. This effect might be associated with regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Liang-hua Fang  (房良华), Shen-lin Liu  (刘沈林), Rui-ping Wang  (王瑞平) & Shou-you Hu  (胡守友)

  2. The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210046, China

    Liang-hua Fang  (房良华)

  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Jiangsu Provincial hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Wen-zheng Ju  (居文政) & Chang-yin Li  (李长印)

Authors
  1. Liang-hua Fang  (房良华)
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  2. Shen-lin Liu  (刘沈林)
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  3. Rui-ping Wang  (王瑞平)
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  4. Shou-you Hu  (胡守友)
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  5. Wen-zheng Ju  (居文政)
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  6. Chang-yin Li  (李长印)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rui-ping Wang  (王瑞平).

Additional information

Supported by the Natural Science Youth Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK20141034), the “Top Talented Personnel in Six Profession” grant in Jiangsu Province (No. 2011-WS-049), the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. Y1008, 2010), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (No. 012062003010), China

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Fang, Lh., Liu, Sl., Wang, Rp. et al. Tounong Powder (透脓散) extracts induce G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in LoVo cells. Chin. J. Integr. Med. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2597-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2597-8

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