We have reported that norcantharidin (NCTD) induces human melanoma A375-S2cell apoptosis and that the activation of caspase and the mitochondrial pathway are involved in theapoptotic process. This study aimed at inves...We have reported that norcantharidin (NCTD) induces human melanoma A375-S2cell apoptosis and that the activation of caspase and the mitochondrial pathway are involved in theapoptotic process. This study aimed at investigating the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) in A375-S2 cell apoptosis induced by NCTD. We assessed theeffects of NCTD on cell growth inhibition using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2 ,5-dipheyltetrazolium bromide ( MTT) assay, DNA fragmentation ( DNA agarose gel electrophoresis ) ,and MAPK protein levels (Western blot analysis) in A375-S2 cells. Photomicroscopic data were alsocollected. The NCTD inhibitory effect on A375-S2 cells was partially reversed by MAPK and PKCinhibitors. The expression of phosphorylated JNK and p38 also increased after the treatment withNCTD, and inhibitors of c-Jun NH2 - terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 ( SP600125 and SB203580,respectively) had significant inhibitory effects on the upregulation of phosphorylated JNK and p38expression. Simultaneously, the PKC inhibitor staurosporine blocked the upregulation ofphosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated p_(38), but had little effect on extracellularsignal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression. These results suggest that the activation of JNK andp_(38) MAPK promotes the process of NCTD-induced A375-S2 cell apoptosis and that PKC plays animportant regulation role in the activation of MAPKs.展开更多
文摘We have reported that norcantharidin (NCTD) induces human melanoma A375-S2cell apoptosis and that the activation of caspase and the mitochondrial pathway are involved in theapoptotic process. This study aimed at investigating the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) in A375-S2 cell apoptosis induced by NCTD. We assessed theeffects of NCTD on cell growth inhibition using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2 ,5-dipheyltetrazolium bromide ( MTT) assay, DNA fragmentation ( DNA agarose gel electrophoresis ) ,and MAPK protein levels (Western blot analysis) in A375-S2 cells. Photomicroscopic data were alsocollected. The NCTD inhibitory effect on A375-S2 cells was partially reversed by MAPK and PKCinhibitors. The expression of phosphorylated JNK and p38 also increased after the treatment withNCTD, and inhibitors of c-Jun NH2 - terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 ( SP600125 and SB203580,respectively) had significant inhibitory effects on the upregulation of phosphorylated JNK and p38expression. Simultaneously, the PKC inhibitor staurosporine blocked the upregulation ofphosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated p_(38), but had little effect on extracellularsignal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression. These results suggest that the activation of JNK andp_(38) MAPK promotes the process of NCTD-induced A375-S2 cell apoptosis and that PKC plays animportant regulation role in the activation of MAPKs.