Apigenin-induced prostate cancer cell death is initiated by reactive oxygen species and p53 activation.

Abstract

Apigenin, a plant flavone, potentially activates wild-type p53 and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. We conducted detailed studies to understand its mechanism of action. Exposure of human prostate cancer 22Rv1 cells, harboring wild-type p53, to growth-suppressive concentrations (10-80 microM) of apigenin resulted in the stabilization of p53 by phosphorylation on critical serine sites, p14ARF-mediated downregulation of MDM2 protein, inhibition of NF-kappaB/p65 transcriptional activity, and induction of p21/WAF-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apigenin at these doses resulted in ROS generation, which was accompanied by rapid glutathione depletion, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytosolic release of cytochrome c, and apoptosis. Interestingly, we observed accumulation of a p53 fraction to the mitochondria, which was rapid and occurred between 1 and 3 h after apigenin treatment. All these effects were significantly blocked by pretreatment of cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha, and enzyme catalase. Apigenin-mediated p53 activation and apoptosis were further attenuated by p53 antisense oligonucleotide treatment. Exposure of cells to apigenin led to a decrease in the levels of Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 and increase in Bax, triggering caspase activation. Treatment with the caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK and DEVD-CHO partially rescued these cells from apigenin-induced apoptosis. In vivo, apigenin administration demonstrated p53-mediated induction of apoptosis in 22Rv1 tumors. These results indicate that apigenin-induced apoptosis in 22Rv1 cells is initiated by a ROS-dependent disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential through transcriptional-dependent and -independent p53 pathways.

• Authors: Sanjeev Shukla, Sanjay Gupta
• Journal: Free radical biology & medicine (Free Radic Biol Med) Vol. 44 Issue 10 Pg. 1833-45 (May 15 2008) ISSN: 0891-5849 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18342637 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Antioxidants
• Benzothiazoles
• CDKN1A protein, human
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Transcription Factor RelA
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• Toluene
• Apigenin
• pifithrin
• MDM2 protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
• Acetylcysteine

Topics

• Acetylcysteine (pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology)
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Apigenin (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Benzothiazoles (pharmacology)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
• Phosphorylation
• Prostatic Neoplasms
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 (metabolism)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Toluene (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Transcription Factor RelA (metabolism)
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF (metabolism)
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (antagonists & inhibitors, physiology)