低浓度哇巴因对人白血病细胞株Jurkat 的生长调控作用及其分子 机制初步研究

目的:观察低浓度哇巴因对人白血病细胞株Jurkat生长的影响并初步探讨哇巴因特异性调节Jurkat细胞生长的机制。方法:分别用不同低浓度哇巴因作用于人白血病细胞株Jurkat后,采用四甲基偶氮唑盐MTT法检测细胞增殖情况、流式细胞学FCM技术检测细胞凋亡情况以及细胞内线粒体膜电位变化情况,Western blot法观察哇巴因对Jutkat细胞膜表面钠钾ATP酶的表达调节作用。结果:MTT及FCM检测结果表明随着哇巴因浓度的增高,哇巴因对Jurkat细胞的增殖抑制及促凋亡作用越明显。WesternBlot结果显示30nM及50nM哇巴因作用于Jurkat细胞株48h后引起细胞钠钾ATP酶表达下调,[3H]-哇巴因结合实验结果显示在Jurkat细胞株随着哇巴因作用浓度升高,细胞膜钠泵对哇巴因的亲和力逐渐下降。结论:低浓度哇巴因即可抑制白血病细胞株Jurkat增殖并诱导其凋亡。这种特异性细胞生长调控作用与哇巴因引起的细胞膜钠钾ATP酶表达变化相关,最终引起细胞内线粒体膜电位发生变化,释放相关凋亡蛋白,诱导细胞凋亡。     

重楼皂苷Ⅰ对肝癌细胞的增殖及凋亡的影响

探讨重楼皂苷Ⅰ(paris saponinⅠ,PSⅠ)在体外对人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞株增殖和凋亡的影响及相关机制.MTT法检测PSⅠ对肝癌SMM-C7721细胞株的增殖抑制作用,Hoechst 33528染色法观察细胞核的形态学变化,流式细胞术Propidium iodide(PI)染色检测细胞周期及凋亡的情况,免疫印迹的方法检测Fas、Bcl-2、Bax、细胞周期素D1(cell cycle regulatory factor D1,Cyclin D1)和细胞周期素E(cell cycle regulatory factor E,Cy-clin E)的表达情况.PSⅠ能时间和浓度依赖性的抑制肝癌SMMC-7721细胞的增殖,与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).干预后的SMMC-7721细胞染色质浓缩,核碎裂,凋亡小体形成,呈典型的凋亡变化.细胞周期阻滞于G1期,并且有凋亡峰形成,呈浓度依赖性.PSⅠ能浓度依赖性地上调Fas和Bax的表达,下调Bcl-2、Cyclin D1和Cyclin E蛋白的表达水平.PSⅠ可能是通过阻滞肿瘤细胞的生长及诱导细胞凋亡等机制,从而抑制肝癌细胞的增殖.     

CDK1 siRNA干扰在Taxol诱导细胞凋亡中的作用

目的研究转染细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶1（cyclin．dependent kinase1,CDK1）siRNA、以及转染后进行凋亡刺激对细胞周期和凋亡的影响,探讨CDK1在细胞凋亡中的确切作用,揭示细胞周期与细胞凋亡协调的分子机制。方法以人宫颈癌细胞株HeLa细胞为研究对象,脂质体转染CDK1siRNA,转染后48h加紫杉醇（Tax01）（20μg／m1）刺激凋亡,Western印迹检测CDK1和抗凋亡蛋白BCL2表达,AnnexinV／PI法检测细胞的凋亡,流式细胞仪分析DNA含量检测细胞周期。结果转染CDK1 siRNA后,CDK1蛋白的表达下降,细胞周期G2／M期比例增加,细胞凋亡率与对照相比没有明显升高。只加Taxol刺激12h后细胞凋亡率增加并伴有S期和G2／M期比例增加。转染CDKlsiRNA后再用Taxol刺激,其细胞凋亡率没有明显改变,G2／M期阻滞效应也没有叠加。BCL2蛋白只在加Taxol刺激组表达下降,与CDK1表达减少没有相关性。结论siRNA沉默导致的CDK1表达降低只导致细胞周期G2／M期阻滞,没有引起细胞凋亡;CDK1的表达降低对紫杉醇所诱导的细胞周期阻滞和细胞凋亡效应没有明显影响。     

片仔癀对人卵巢癌OVCAR-3细胞增殖、凋亡及周期的影响

目的：研究片仔癀对人卵巢癌细胞株OVCAR-3增殖抑制作用,及其对细胞周期、细胞凋亡的影响。方法：采用MTT法观察片仔癀对人卵巢癌细胞株OVCAR-3细胞的增殖抑制率,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡及细胞周期,westem—blot检测相关蛋白的表达。结果：片仔癀以剂量依赖式抑制人卵巢癌细胞株OVCAR-3细胞增殖,片仔癀250、500、1000μg·mL-1作用于OVCAR-3细胞24h后,其早期凋亡率分别为6．6％、30．9％、43．2％,而对照组为0％,其诱导凋亡作用呈现剂量依赖性;细胞积聚在G0／G1期,同时S期细胞比例减少;Akt、PARP、CDK6表达下调。结论：片仔癀可以抑制OVCAR-3细胞增殖及诱导细胞凋亡作用,并能阻滞细胞于G0／G1期,有望成为卵巢癌治疗药。     

片仔癀对人卵巢癌OVCAR-3细胞增殖、凋亡及周期的影响

目的:研究片仔癀对人卵巢癌细胞株OVCAR-3增殖抑制作用,及其对细胞周期、细胞凋亡的影响。方法:采用MTT法观察片仔癀对人卵巢癌细胞株OVCAR-3细胞的增殖抑制率,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡及细胞周期,western-blot检测相关蛋白的表达。结果:片仔癀以剂量依赖式抑制人卵巢癌细胞株OVCAR-3细胞增殖,片仔癀250、500、1000μg·mL-1作用于OVCAR-3细胞24 h后,其早期凋亡率分别为6.6%、30.9%、43.2%,而对照组为0%,其诱导凋亡作用呈现剂量依赖性;细胞积聚在G0/G1期,同时S期细胞比例减少;Akt、PARP、CDK6表达下调。结论:片仔癀可以抑制OVCAR-3细胞增殖及诱导细胞凋亡作用,并能阻滞细胞于G0/G1期,有望成为卵巢癌治疗药。     

鸟氨酸脱羧酶基因反义RNA对淋巴瘤细胞Jurkat生长的影响

探讨鸟氨酸脱羧酶(ornithine decarboxylase,ODC)反义RNA是否对人淋巴瘤细胞Jurkat的生长具有抑制作用。含反义RNA的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)/Rodc用脂质体转染Jurkat细胞,G418筛选ODC表达抑制的细胞株,MTS法分析细胞增殖,Western blotting检测细胞中ODC蛋白表达水平,半定量RT-PCR检测细胞中ODC mRNA含量,流式细胞术检测细胞周期的变化,DNA片段化分析细胞凋亡。结果显示,成功获得ODC表达抑制的淋巴瘤细胞株J/o,ODC反义RNA转染细胞后,引起Jurkat细胞生长缓慢和S/G2细胞周期停滞,细胞对抗癌药物DFMO敏感性显著增加。由此证明,ODC反义RNA能抑制人T淋巴瘤Jurkat细胞的生长,具有治疗人白血病的潜在应用价值。     

细胞周期特异性细胞凋亡的形态学观察

目的观察喜树碱诱导Molt-4细胞凋亡形态的细胞周期时相性变化,建立一种新的细胞周期特异性细胞凋亡分析方法.方法以凋亡诱导剂喜树碱(终浓度为0.15μmol/L)影响下的Molt-4细胞为检测对象,应用流式细胞术分析细胞凋亡及细胞周期的变化;用琼脂糖凝胶电泳的方法探测断裂的DNA片段存在,进一步证实细胞凋亡的存在;碘化丙啶(PI)染色后,再应用流式分选术结合激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(laser scanning confocal microsope, LSCM)观察各期细胞形态从而对已凋亡细胞进行形态学确认.结果①琼脂糖凝胶电泳可见清晰的DNA梯形条带(DNA ladder); ②喜树碱导致Molt-4细胞周期的S期水平明显下降,并伴随有一明显的细胞凋亡峰; ③只在S期细胞中可见到已凋亡细胞.以上说明喜树碱可以诱导Molt-4细胞凋亡,并细胞凋亡发生在细胞周期中的S期,与传统的结论一致.结论通过DNA直方图分选后细胞凋亡形态学分析可以对细胞凋亡的细胞周期特异性进行检测.这种方法使细胞周期特异性凋亡的分析更加可靠全面.     

层粘连蛋白对晚G1期人胃癌BGC-823细胞生长的促进作用

为研究层粘连蛋白（laminin,LN）促进肿瘤细胞生长作用,采用脉冲标记计数有丝分裂百分率(percentage labeling mitosis,PLM)法测得体外培养人胃癌 (BGC 823) 细胞周期时间为41 h,其中G1期时间为24.5 h. 分裂细胞脱离法获取分裂期细胞,继续培养23 h,在细胞运行进入G1晚期时,将其置于LN 0、0.11、0.55、1.10 μmol/L基质上孵育4 h; 细胞荧光光度计检测晚G1期细胞内Ca2+浓度、钙调蛋白、DNA含量. 结果显示,LN与其膜上受体结合后引起细胞内Ca2+浓度、钙调蛋白、DNA含量增加,尤以在0.55 μmol/L LN作用显著（P<0. 001）.蛋白质免疫印迹分析证明,cPKC α呈现表达,提示 LN与其受体结合可增强其细胞cPKC-α的活性;分析G1期细胞周期蛋白E(cyclinE)、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶CDK2表达水平,呈现逐渐增强的趋势; LN可诱导c-Myc蛋白呈现高表达,提示 LN与其受体结合增强与细胞增殖密切相关的基因表达;在LN作用前后的BGC 823细胞均未检测到Bax蛋白表达.结果提示,在人胃癌 (BGC 823)细胞G1/S期交界处,层粘连蛋白与其膜上受体结合引起细胞内Ca2+浓度升高,诱导钙调蛋白的释放,其含量增加,增强蛋白激酶C的活化,导致细胞内DNA含量增加、G1/S期细胞周期蛋白与CDK表达增强、诱导原癌基因c-Myc呈持续表达状态,而凋亡基因Bax不表达.     

鼠疫耶尔森菌毒力蛋白YopE新功能的初步研究

鼠疫耶尔森菌外部蛋白E（YopE）是鼠疫耶尔森菌的6种分泌蛋白之一,主要通过其144位的”精氨酸手指”结构与细胞膜耦联蛋白RhoGTP酶相互作用发挥功能.本文构建YopE及其144位突变体YopE(R144A)的可诱导表达系统,并优化了诱导条件. 用该系统结合流式细胞技术检测YopE和YopE(R144A)对细胞凋亡、细胞周期和细胞活性氧(ROS)水平的影响.结果显示：YopE(R144A)促进HeLa细胞凋亡|使G0/G1期细胞比例上升,G2/M期细胞比例下降;随着YopE(R144A)表达量增加,p21蛋白的表达量也增加| YopE(R144A)也能抑制细胞ROS的产生.研究结果提示,YopE在细胞内可能存在新的致病靶点.     

褪黑素抑制人骨肉瘤U2细胞增殖及其机制

目的研究褪黑素对体外培养人骨肉瘤U2细胞增殖的影响,并对其可能机制进行研究。方法体外培养U2细胞,用不同浓度褪黑素加以干预,以CCK-8法检测褪黑素对U2细胞增殖的影响;对细胞进行Hoechst 33258染色,荧光显微镜下观察褪黑素对U2细胞凋亡的影响;以流式细胞术检测褪黑素对细胞凋亡及细胞周期的影响;通过实时荧光定量PCR及免疫印迹法检测U2细胞Fas基因表达情况。结果 1 CCK8法检测显示褪黑素对U2细胞增殖有抑制作用,作用时间越长,浓度越高,抑制作用越明显;2 Hoechst33258染色可见凋亡小体;3流式细胞检测显示褪黑素作用后早期凋亡的U2细胞增加,并使细胞周期阻滞在G2/M期;4实时荧光定量PCR及免疫印迹法显示褪黑素处理后U2细胞上调Fas蛋白表达。结论褪黑素对U2细胞的增殖有抑制作用,可诱导细胞发生凋亡,其机制可能与将细胞复制周期阻滞在G2/M期及上调Fas蛋白表达量有关。     

Cell cycle-dependent regulation of FLIP levels and susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis

Activation-induced cell death of peripheral T cells results from the interaction between Fas and Fas ligand. Resting peripheral T cells are resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis and become susceptible only after their activation. We have investigated the molecular mechanism mediating the sensitization of resting peripheral T cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis following TCR stimulation. TCR activation decreases the steady state protein levels of FLIP (FLICE-like inhibitory protein), an inhibitor of the Fas signaling pathway. Reconstitution of intracellular FLIP levels by the addition of a soluble HIV transactivator protein-FLIP chimera completely restores resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis in TCR primary T cells. Inhibition of IL-2 production by cyclosporin A, or inhibition of IL-2 signaling by rapamycin or anti-IL-2 neutralizing Abs prevents the decrease in FLIP levels and confers resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis following T cell activation. Using cell cycle-blocking agents, we demonstrate that activated T cells arrested in G1 phase contain high levels of FLIP protein, whereas activated T cells arrested in S phase have decreased FLIP protein levels. These findings link regulation of FLIP protein levels with cell cycle progression and provide an explanation for the increase in TCR-induced apoptosis observed during the S phase of the cell cycle.     

Fas-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat cells is suppressed in the pre-G2/M phase

The relationship between the cell cycle and Fas-mediated apoptosis was investigated using Jurkat cells. Analysis of the inducibility of apoptosis by anti-Fas antibody during the cell cycle synchronized by the thymidine double-block method, showed that apoptosis was induced in only 50% of the G2/M phase cells, while most of cells in the other phases underwent apoptosis. These observations indicate that G2/M phase cells are more resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis than cells in other phases. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of G2/M phase found that only 20–30% of the cells underwent apoptosis 12 h after the removal of the second thymidine block (pre-G2/M phase). This suggests that Fas-mediated apoptosis is potently suppressed during the pre-G2/M phase. A possible explanation for the observation that cells in the pre-G2/M phase are less sensitive to anti-Fas antibody is lower expression level of Fas. To test this possibility, Fas expression levels on the cell surface during the cell cycle were examined. The content of Fas on the cell surface, however, did not change appreciably during the cell cycle. Thus, the suppression of apoptosis in the pre-G2/M phase is determined downstream after the receipt of the apoptotic signal through Fas.     

Fas aggregation does not correlate with Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Cross-linking of cell surface Fas molecules by Fas ligand or by agonistic anti-Fas Abs induces cell death by apoptosis. We found that a serine protease inhibitor, N-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), dramatically enhances Fas-mediated apoptosis in the human T cell line Jurkat and in various B cell lines resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The enhancing effect of TLCK is specific to Fas-induced cell death, with no effect seen on TNF-alpha or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis. TLCK treatment had no effect on Fas expression levels on the cell surface, and neither promoted death-inducing signaling complex formation nor decreased expression levels of cellular inhibitors of apoptosis (FLICE inhibitory protein, X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, and Bcl-2). Activation of the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway by anti-Fas Ab is accompanied by aggregation of Fas molecules to form oligomers that are stable to boiling in SDS and beta-ME. Fas aggregation is often considered to be required for Fas-mediated apoptosis. However, sensitization of cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis by TLCK or other agents (cycloheximide, protein kinase C inhibitors) causes less Fas aggregation during the apoptotic process compared with that in nonsensitized cells. These results show that Fas aggregation and Fas-mediated apoptosis are not directly correlated and may even be inversely correlated.     

Dendritic cells are resistant to apoptosis through the Fas (CD95/APO-1) pathway.

Immunoregulation of lymphocytes and macrophages in the peripheral immune system is achieved in part by activation-induced cell death. Members of the TNF receptor family including Fas (CD95) are involved in the regulation of activation-induced cell death. To determine whether activation-induced cell death plays a role in regulation of dendritic cells (DCs), we examined interactions between Ag-presenting murine DCs and Ag-specific Th1 CD4+ T cells. Whereas mature bone marrow- or spleen-derived DCs expressed high levels of Fas, these DCs were relatively insensitive to Fas-mediated killing by the agonist mAb, Jo-2, as well as authentic Fas ligand expressed on the CD4+ T cell line, A.E7. The insensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis was not affected by priming with IFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha or by blocking the DC survival signals TNF-related activation-induced cytokine and CD40L. However, apoptosis could be induced with C2-ceramide, suggesting that signals proximal to the generation of ceramide might mediate resistance to Fas. Analysis of protein expression of several anti-apoptotic mediators revealed that expression of the intracellular inhibitor of apoptosis Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein was significantly higher in Fas-resistant DCs than in Fas-sensitive macrophages, suggesting a possible role for Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein in DC resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that murine DCs differ significantly from other APC populations in susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis during cognate presentation of Ag. Because DCs are most notable for initiation of an immune response, resistance to apoptosis may contribute to this function.     

Anti-Fas antibody-induced apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines: role of the p53 gene

The cell surface Fas antigen transducts an apoptotic signal by its crosslinking with Fas ligand or anti-Fas antibody in a variety of human cultured cells. In this study, we examined the expression of Fas antigen and its mediation of apoptosis in six human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. A flow cytometric analysis revealed that LoVo, DLD-1, WiDr and SW837 cell lines showed higher expression levels of Fas antigen, in contrast to lower expression in COLO201 and COLO320DM. Interferon- enhanced the expression of Fas antigen in all of the cell lines examined. Both Fas ligand and Fas-associated phosphatase-1 (FAP-1) were expressed only in COLO320DM. Anti-Fas antibody induced apoptosis in LoVo carrying wild-type p53 gene, but not in the other five cell lines carrying mutated p53 gene. The transfection of wild-type p53 gene using an adenovirous vector upregulated P53 protein in WiDr and SW837 cells, both of which showed, however, no increase in apoptotic cells by anti-Fas antibody treatment. These results indicated that (1) Fas antigen was variably expressed, regardless of the p53 gene status and (2) the susceptibility to anti-Fas antibody-mediated apoptosis did not correlate to Fas, Fas ligand or FAP-1 expression levels. Therefore, we conclude that wild-type P53 expression might not necessarily be essential for Fas-mediated apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines.     

Cell cycle dysregulation by green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate

Epidemiological, in vitro cell culture, and in vivo animal studies have shown that green tea or its constituent polyphenols, particularly its major polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may protect against many cancer types. In earlier studies, we showed that green tea polyphenol EGCG causes a G0/G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells. We also demonstrated that these effects of EGCG may be mediated through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B that has been associated with cell cycle regulation and cancer. In this study, employing A431 cells, we provide evidence for the involvement of cyclin kinase inhibitor (cki)-cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) machinery during cell cycle deregulation by EGCG. As shown by immunoblot analysis, EGCG treatment of the cells resulted in significant dose- and time-dependent (i) upregulation of the protein expression of WAF1/p21, KIP1/p27, p16 and p18, (ii) downmodulation of the protein expression of cyclin D1, cdk4 and cdk6, but not of cyclin E and cdk2, (iii) inhibition of the kinase activities associated with cyclin E, cyclin D1, cdk2, cdk4 and cdk6. Taken together, our study suggests that EGCG causes an induction of G1-phase ckis, which inhibit the cyclin-cdk complexes operative in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle thereby causing a G0/G1-phase arrest of the cell cycle, which is an irreversible process ultimately resulting in an apoptotic cell death. We suggest that the naturally occurring agents such as green tea polyphenols which may inhibit cell cycle progression could be developed as potent anticancer agents for the management of cancer.     

A20 inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis through negative Fas/Fas ligand-dependent activation of caspase-8 and mitochondrial pathways in murine RAW264.7 macrophages

A20 was originally characterized as a TNF-inducible gene in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. As an NF-kappaB target gene, A20 is also induced in many other cell types by a wide range of stimuli. Expression of A20 has been shown to protect from TNF-induced apoptosis and also functions via a negative-feedback loop to block NF-kappaB activation induced by TNF and other stimuli. To date, there are no reports on whether A20 can protect OxLDL-induced apoptosis in macrophages. For the first time we report that A20 expression blocks OxLDL-mediated cell toxicity and apoptosis. OxLDL induced the expression of Fas and FasL, and the subsequent caspase-8 cleavage and treatment with a neutralizing ZB4 anti-Fas antibody blocked apoptosis induced by OxLDL. Expression of dominant negative FADD efficiently prevented OxLDL-induced apoptosis and caspase-8 activation. A20 expression significantly attenuated the increased expression of Fas and FasL, and Fas-mediated apoptosis. These findings suggest that A20-mediated protection from OxLDL may occur at the level of Fas/FADD-caspase-8 and be FasL dependent. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with OxLDL induces a series of time-dependent events, including the release of cytochrome c, Smac and Omi from the mitochondria to the cytosol, activation of caspase-9, -6, -2, and -3, which are blocked by A20 expression. No cleaved form of Bid was detected, even treatment with OxLDL for 48 h. Expression of dominant negative FADD also efficiently prevented OxLDL-induced the above apoptotic events. The release of cyto c, Smac and Omi from mitochondria to cytosol, activated by OxLDL treatment, and the activation of caspase-9 may not be a downstream event of caspase-8-mediated Bid cleavage. Therefore, the protective effect of A20 on mitochondrial apoptotic pathway activated by OxLDL may be dependent on FADD. A20 expression reversed OxLDL-mediated G(0)/G(1) stage arrest by maintaining the expression of cyclin B1, cyclin D1, and cyclin E, and p21 and p73. Thus, A20 expression blocks OxLDL-mediated apoptosis in murine RAW264.7 macrophages through disrupting Fas/FasL-dependent activation of caspase-8 and the mitochondria pathway.     

T cell receptor-induced activation and apoptosis in cycling human T cells occur throughout the cell cycle

Previous studies have found conflicting associations between susceptibility to activation-induced cell death and the cell cycle in T cells. However, most of the studies used potentially toxic pharmacological agents for cell cycle synchronization. A panel of human melanoma tumor-reactive T cell lines, a CD8+ HER-2/neu-reactive T cell clone, and the leukemic T cell line Jurkat were separated by centrifugal elutriation. Fractions enriched for the G0-G1, S, and G2-M phases of the cell cycle were assayed for T cell receptor-mediated activation as measured by intracellular Ca(2+) flux, cytolytic recognition of tumor targets, and induction of Fas ligand mRNA. Susceptibility to apoptosis induced by recombinant Fas ligand and activation-induced cell death were also studied. None of the parameters studied was specific to a certain phase of the cell cycle, leading us to conclude that in nontransformed human T cells, both activation and apoptosis through T cell receptor activation can occur in all phases of the cell cycle.     

Linkage of Curcumin-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/WAF1/CIP1

We have recently shown that curcumin induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells through Bax translocation to mitochondria and caspase activation, and enhances the therapeutic potential of TRAIL. However, the molecular mechanisms by which it causes growth arrest are not well-understood. We studied the molecular mechanism of curcumin-induced cell cycle arrest in prostate cancer androgen-sensitive LNCaP and androgen-insensitive PC-3 cells. Treatment of both cell lines with curcumin resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase and that this cell cycle arrest is followed by the induction of apoptosis. Curcumin induced the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p16/INK4a, p21/WAF1/CIP1 and p27/KIP1, and inhibited the expression of cyclin E and cyclin D1, and hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Lactacystin, an inhibitor of 26 proteasome, blocks curcumin-induced down-regulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin E proteins, suggesting their regulation at level of posttranslation. The suppression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E by curcumin may inhibit CDK-mediated phosphorylation of pRb protein. The inhibition of p21/WAF1/CIP1 by siRNA blocks curcumin-induced apoptosis, thus establishing a link between cell cycle and apoptosis. These effects of curcumin result in the proliferation arrest and disruption of cell cycle control leading to apoptosis. Our study suggests that curcumin can be developed as a chemopreventive agent for human prostate cancer.