In vitro: |
Carcinogenesis, 2000, 21(12):2151-7. | Apoptosis induced by 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is associated with modulation of polyamine metabolism and caspase-3 activation.[Reference: WebLink] | The efficacy of the antitumor activity of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), reported to be a suppressor of chemically induced carcinogenesis, was evaluated in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
ACA treatment resulted in changes in morphology and a dose-dependent suppression of cell viability. Apoptosis, characterized by nuclear condensation, membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage and a significant induction of caspase-3-like protease activity at 8 h in a time-course study were observed. Formation of apoptotic bodies was preceded by lowering of intracellular polyamines, particularly putrescine, and both dose- and time-dependent inhibitory and activation effect by ACA on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT), respectively. Administration of exogenous polyamines prevented ACA-induced apoptosis represented by a reduction in the number of apoptotic bodies and also caused reduction in the induced caspase-3-like protease activity at 8 h.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that the anticarcinogenic effects of ACA might be partly due to perturbation of the polyamine metabolic pathway and triggering of caspase-3-like activity, which result in apoptosis. |
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