Sequential occurrence of mitochondrial and plasma membrane alterations, fluctuations in cellular Ca2+ and pH during initial and later phases of cell death

The sequential occurrence of plasma and mitochondrial membrane alterations, intra-cellular pH shifts and changes in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration after induction of cell death was monitored by flow cytometry in Jurkat and HSB2-cells. Cell death was induced by treatment with anti-Fas antibodies or by irradiation. Phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure and plasma membrane integrity were measured with FITC-Annexin V adhesion and by Propidium Iodide exclusion. Transition of the mitochondrial membrane potential was monitored by the occurrence of decay of DiOC₆ fluorescence. Intracellular pH shifts were monitored by changes in the ratio of fluorescence at 575 nm and at 635 nm of SNARF-1-AM. Fluctuations in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration were established by changes in Fura red quenching.The Jurkat cells were sensitive to anti-Fas treatment, while HSB-2 cells were not. HSB-2 cells appeared more sensitive to radiation damage than Jurkat cells.In all experiments the transition of mitochondrial membrane potential occurred first, almost immediately followed by PS exposure. Fluctuations in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration occurred later and were less outspoken. A decrease in intracellular pH occurred not earlier than 24 hours after anti-Fas treatment. Chelation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration with BAPTA-AM had no effect on the time sequence of cell death related events.     

Synthesis of Novel Pyrazole-Oxindole Conjugates with Cytotoxicity in Human Cancer Cells via Apoptosis

A novel series of pyrazole-oxindole conjugates were prepared and characterized as potential cytotoxic agents by FT-IR, NMR and HR-MS. The cytotoxic activity of these compounds was tested in the Jurkat acute T cell leukemia, CEM acute lymphoblastic leukemia, MCF10 A mammary epithelial and MDA-MB 231 triple negative breast cancer cell lines. Among the tested conjugates, 5-methyl-3-((3-(1-phenyl)-3-(p-tolyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylene)indolin-2-one 6h emerged as the most cytotoxic with a CC₅₀ of 4.36+/−0.2 μM against Jurkat cells. The mechanism of cell death induced by 6h was investigated through the Annexin V-FITC assay via flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitochondrial health and the cell cycle progression were also evaluated in cells exposed to 6h . Results demonstrated that 6h induces apoptosis in a dose-response manner, without generating ROS and/or altering mitochondrial health. In addition, 6h disrupted the cell cycle distribution causing an increase in DNA fragmentation (Sub G0-G1), and an arrest in the G0-G1 phase. Taken together, the 6h compound revealed a strong potential as an antineoplastic agent evidenced by its cytotoxicity in leukemia cells, the activation of apoptosis and restriction of the cell cycle progression.     

Characterization of cells with different mitochondrial membrane potential during apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Until now, the simultaneous analysis of several parameters during apoptosis, including DNA content and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi), has not been possible because of the spectral characteristics of the commonly used dyes. Using polychromatic flow cytometry based upon multiple laser and UV lamp excitation, we have characterized cells with different DeltaPsi during apoptosis. METHODS: U937 cells were treated with the flavonoid quercetin (Qu) and stained with JC-1 to detect DeltaPsi, propidium iodide (PI) for cell viability, Hoechst 33342 for DNA content, Annexin V conjugated with Alexa Fluor-647 for detection of phosphatidilserine (PS) exposure, marker of early apoptosis, or Mitotracker Deep Red for the determination of mitochondrial mass. RESULTS: Treatment with Qu provoked the onset of three cell populations with different DeltaPsi: (1) healthy cells, with normal DeltaPsi, DNA content and physical parameters, high mitochondrial mass, PI- and Annexin V-negative; (2) cells with intermediate DeltaPsi and normal DNA content, but with physical parameters typical of apoptotic cells and low mitochondrial mass; most of them were PI+ and Annexin V+; (3) cells with collapsed DeltaPsi that had low mitochondrial mass and were Annexin-V+, PI+; half of them showed diminished DNA content. Similar results, i.e. the presence of cells with intermediate DeltaPsi, were observed in other models of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: During Qu-induced apoptosis, loss of DeltaPsi, PS exposure, and decrease of mitochondrial mass are early events that precede permeability to PI and loss of DNA. Populations of cells with different DeltaPsi, as revealed by flow cytometry after JC-1 staining, differed also for other parameters associated to apoptosis. Thus, the simultaneous analysis of several parameters by polychromatic flow cytometry permits a better identification of many stages of cell death, and, more in general, allows to evaluate the eventual heterogenic sensibility of the population under study to a given compound.     

Green fluorescent protein as a novel tool to measure apoptosis and necrosis

BACKGROUND: Several apoptosis-detecting methods are currently available. Many of them are work intensive and require the additional use of antibodies, dyes, specific substrates, or enzymatic reactions. A simple, fast, and reliable method was developed to test for apoptosis or necrosis using mouse and human cell lines (e.g., Jurkat, A20.2J, and PB3c cells) stably transfected with a vector coding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) as indicator cells. METHODS: Apoptosis in GFP-transfected cell lines was induced either by soluble Fas-Ligand (sFasL), recombinant human TRAIL (rhTRAIL), or interleukin-3 (IL-3) deprivation. Necrosis was induced by polyclonal anti-A20 and complement treatment of GFP-transfected A20. Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry for GFP fluorescence. Propidium iodide and Annexin V staining were used to confirm the results obtained with the GFP-method. RESULTS: Live GFP-transfected cells show a strong fluorescence intensity, which is significantly diminished upon induction of apoptosis, whereas necrotic GFP-transfected cells almost completely lose their GFP-associated fluorescence. Apoptosis but not necrosis of GFP-transfected cells was blocked by the use of a caspase inhibitor. The results are highly comparable to conventional apoptosis-detecting methods. CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of our GFP-based assay compared with other methods is the analysis of apoptosis or necrosis without the necessity for additional staining or washing steps, making it an ideal tool for screening apoptotic or necrotic stimuli.     

Analysis of radiation-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes: flow cytometry using Annexin V and propidium iodide versus the neutral comet assay

BACKGROUND: The neutral comet assay was devised to measure double-stranded DNA breaks, but it has also been used to measure apoptosis based on its characteristic DNA fragmentation patterns. There is still uncertainty about the reliability of this method. By comparing the comet assay with a flow cytometry method that uses Annexin V binding to apoptotic cells, we have provided further evidence for evaluating the usefulness of the comet assay for detecting apoptosis. METHODS: Apoptosis was induced in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by ionizing radiation and measured using the comet assay and a flow cytometry method that measures Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. RESULTS: The Annexin V flow cytometry assay distinguished among early apoptosis, late apoptosis, and an apoptotic or necrotic phase in which the cells were labeled with both Annexin V and PI. The comet assay detected only the latter two phases of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The comet assay is a useful tool for measuring the late stages of apoptosis whereas the Annexin V assay measures higher amounts of apoptosis because it can detect cells in an earlier stage of the apoptotic pathway.     

曲古霉素A增强肺癌细胞对放射线敏感性及机制

目的：探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂曲古霉素A（trichostatin A,TSA）增强人非小细胞肺癌（NscLc）A549对γ-射线敏感性作用及机制。方法：以TSA（0．51zM）预处理细胞18h,再以5Gyγ-射线照射细胞,24h后采用MTT法检测细胞存活率,AnnexinV—PI染色检测细胞凋亡,Westernblot法检测胞浆中和线粒体促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,流式细胞仪检测细胞线粒体膜电位变化。结果-5Gyγ-射线照射可轻度降低细胞存活率,仅有少量细胞发生凋亡,以TSA预处理再以γ-射线处理细胞,细胞存活率显著下降,凋亡细胞明显增多,伴有线粒体膜电位下降,以及Bax蛋白的激活,表现在线粒体Bax表达较单纯照射组显著增高。结论：TSA通过促进Bax蛋白的活化激活线粒体凋亡途径,增强增强A549细胞对γ-射线的敏感性。     

Bax translocation mediated mitochondrial apoptosis and caspase dependent photosensitizing effect of Ficus religiosa on cancer cells

The main aim of the present work was to investigate the potential effect of acetone extract of Ficus religosa leaf (FAE) in multiple apoptosis signalling in human breast cancer cells. FAE treatment significantly induced dose and time dependent, irreversible inhibition of breast cancer cell growth with moderate toxicity to normal breast epithelial cells. This observation was validated using Sulforhodamine B assay. Cell cycle analysis by Flow cytometry showed cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and induction of sub-G0 peak. FAE induced chromatin condensation and displayed an increase in apoptotic population in Annexin V-FITC/PI (Fluorescein isothiocyanate/Propidium iodide) double staining. FAE stimulated the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in multiple breast cancer cell lines when compared to normal diploid cells. To understand the role of Bax in FAE induced apoptosis, we employed a sensitive cell based platform of MCF-7 cells expressing Bax-EGFP. Bax translocation to mitochondria was accompanied by the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and marked elevation in LEHDase activity (Caspase 9). Consistent with this data, FAE induced Caspase activation as evidenced by ratio change in FRET Caspase sensor expressing MCF-7 cell line and cleavage of prominent Caspases and PARP. Interestingly, FAE accelerated cell death in a mitochondrial dependent manner in continuous live cell imaging mode indicating its possible photosensitizing effect. Intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by FAE played a critical role in mediating apoptotic cell death and photosensitizing activity. FAE induced dose and time dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth which was associated with Bax translocation and mitochondria mediated apoptosis with the activation of Caspase 9 dependent Caspase cascade. FAE also possessed strong photosensitizing effect on cancer cell line that was mediated through rapid mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss and partial Caspase activation involving generation of intracellular ROS.     

Annexin V staining during reperfusion detects cardiomyocytes with unique properties

With the use of markers of sarcolemmal membrane permeability, cardiomyocyte models of ischemic injury have primarily addressed necrotic death during ischemia. In the present study, we used annexin V-propidium iodide staining to examine apoptosis and necrosis after simulated ischemia and simulated reperfusion in rat ventricular myocytes. Annexin V binds phosphatidylserine, a phosphoaminolipid thought to be externalized during apoptosis or programmed cell death. Propidium iodide is a marker of cell necrosis. Under baseline conditions, <1% of cardiomyocytes stained positive for annexin V. After 20 or 60 min of simulated ischemia, there was no increase in annexin V staining, although 60-min simulated ischemia resulted in significant propidium iodide staining. Twenty minutes of simulated ischemia, followed by 20 or 60 min of simulated reperfusion, resulted in 8-10% of myocytes staining positive for annexin V. Annexin V-positive cells retained both rod-shaped morphology and contractile function but exhibited the decreased cell width indicative of cell shrinkage. Baseline mitochondrial free Ca2+ (111 +/- 14 nM) was elevated in reperfused annexin V-negative cells (214 +/- 22 nM), and further elevated in annexin V-positive myocytes (382 +/- 9 nM). After 60 min of simulated reperfusion, caspase-3-like activity was observed in approximately 3% of myocytes, which had a rounded appearance and membrane blebs. These results suggest that the use of annexin V after simulated ischemia-reperfusion uncovers a population of cardiomyocytes whose characteristics appear to be consistent with cells undergoing apoptosis.     

Simultaneous detection of apoptosis and mitochondrial superoxide production in live cells by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy

Annexin V and Sytox Green are widely used markers to evaluate apoptosis in various cell types using flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. Recently, a novel fluoroprobe MitoSOX Red was introduced for selective detection of superoxide in the mitochondria of live cells and was validated for confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. This protocol describes simultaneous measurements of mitochondrial superoxide generation with apoptotic markers (Annexin V and Sytox Green) by both flow cytometry and confocal microscopy in endothelial cell lines. The advantages of the described flow cytometry method over other cell-based techniques are the tremendous speed (1-2 h), exquisite precision and the possibility of simultaneous quantitative measurements of mitochondrial superoxide generation and apoptotic (and other) markers, with maximal preservation of cellular functions. This method combined with fluorescent microscopy may be very useful to reveal important spatial-temporal changes in mitochondrial superoxide production and execution of programmed cell death in virtually any cell type.     

Expression of cyclin A,B1 and D1 after induction of cell cycle arrest in the Jurkat cell line exposed to doxorubicin

Jurkat human lymphoblastoid cells were incubated in increasing concentrations of doxorubicin (0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 μM) to induce cell death, and their expression of cyclin A, B1 and D1 was evaluated by flow cytometry (cell cycle progression, Annexin V assay, percentages and levels of each of the cyclins), transmission electron microscopy (ultrastructure) and confocal fluorescence microscopy (expression and intracellular localization of cyclins). After low‐dose doxorubicin treatment, Jurkat cells responded mainly by G2/M arrest, which was related to increased cyclin B1, A and D1 levels, a low level of apoptosis and/or mitotic catastrophe. The influence of doxorubicin on levels and/or localization of selected cyclins was confirmed, which may in turn contribute to the G2/M arrest induced by the drug.     

Synthesis and potent antileukemic activities of 10-benzyl-9(10H)-acridinones

A novel series of 10-benzyl-9(10H)-acridinones and 1-benzyl-4-piperidones were synthesized and tested for their in vitro antitumor activities against CCRF-CEM cells. Assay-based antiproliferative activity study using CCRF-CEM cell lines revealed that the acridone group and the substitution pattern on the benzene unit had significant effect on cytotoxicity of this series of compounds, among which 10-(3,5-dimethoxy)benzyl-9(10H)-acridinone (3b) was found to be the most active compound with IC(50) at about 0.7 microM. Compound 3b was also found to have antiproliferative activity against two other human leukemic cell lines K562 and HL60 using the MTT assay. The antitumor effect of 3b is believed to be due to the induction of apoptosis, which is further confirmed by PI (Propidium iodide) staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assay using flow cytometry analysis.     

Bovine lactoferricin causes apoptosis in Jurkat T-leukemia cells by sequential permeabilization of the cell membrane and targeting of mitochondria

Bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide that kills Jurkat T-leukemia cells by the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. However, the process by which LfcinB triggers mitochondria-dependent apoptosis is not well understood. Here, we show that LfcinB-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T-leukemia cells was preceded by LfcinB binding to, and progressive permeabilization of the cell membrane. Colloidal gold electron microscopy revealed that LfcinB entered the cytoplasm of Jurkat T-leukemia cells prior to the onset of mitochondrial depolarization. LfcinB was not internalized by endocytosis because endocytosis inhibitors did not prevent LfcinB-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, intracellular delivery of LfcinB via fusogenic liposomes caused the death of Jurkat T-leukemia cells, as well as normal human fibroblasts. Collectively, these findings suggest that LfcinB caused damage to the cell membrane that allowed LfcinB to enter the cytoplasm of Jurkat T-leukemia cells and mediate cytotoxicity. In addition, confocal microscopy showed that intracellular LfcinB co-localized with mitochondria in Jurkat T-leukemia cells, while flow cytometry and colloidal gold electron microscopy showed that LfcinB rapidly associated with purified mitochondria. Furthermore, purified mitochondria treated with LfcinB rapidly lost transmembrane potential and released cytochrome c. We conclude that LfcinB-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T-leukemia cells resulted from cell membrane damage and the subsequent disruption of mitochondrial membranes by internalized LfcinB.     

A comparison of three flow cytometry methods for evaluating mitochondrial damage during staurosporine-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells.

Measuring cytochrome c release during apoptosis provides valuable information about the nature and extent of apoptosis. Several years ago a flow cytometric method (based on selective permeabilization of the plasma membrane with digitonin) was developed that has advantages over other techniques. These experiments describe a comprehensive evaluation of that method. Apoptosis was triggered in Jurkat cells with staurosporine and then flow cytometry was used to measure three aspects of mitochondrial damage: (1) cytochrome c release (with the digitonin assay and a commercially available kit based on the same principle), using a DNA-binding dye to define cell cycle stage; (2) loss of mitochondrial cardiolipin, assessed by a decrease in 10 N-nonyl acridine orange (NAO) binding; and (3) loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, assessed by a decrease in tetramethylrhodamineethylester (TMRE) binding. The results from these three assays were compared with an antibody-based assay for cleaved caspase 3. The digitonin assay and the commercially available kit gave comparable results, showing that staurosporine caused cytochrome c release in all phases of the cell cycle and clearly defining those cells that had lost DNA due to internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The pattern of fluorescence demonstrated that the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway was either the sole or the predominant pathway to be activated and that cytochrome c release in an individual cell was all-or-nothing. However, comparison with the other assays showed that the cytochrome c release assay underestimated the true extent of apoptosis. This was caused by the selective loss of some digitonin-treated apoptotic cells. The flow cytometry assay for cytochrome c release provides valuable information but it underestimates the percentage of apoptotic cells.     

The effect of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids haemanthamine and haemanthidine on cell cycle progression and apoptosis in p53-negative human leukemic Jurkat cells

Plants from the Amaryllidaceae family have been shown to be a promising source of biologically active natural compounds of which some selected are currently in pre-clinical development. Regardless of interesting pioneer works, little is known about Amaryllidaceae alkaloids that have shown promising anti-cancer activities. The crinane group of the Amaryllidaceae, including haemanthamine and haemanthidine, was amongst the first of these compounds to exhibit an interesting cytotoxic potential against cancer cell lines. However, the mechanism of cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity is not yet entirely clear. The primary objectives of the current study were to investigate the effects of haemanthamine and haemanthidine on the induction of apoptosis and the cell cycle regulatory pathway in p53-null Jurkat cells. Results indicate that haemanthamine and haemanthidine treatment decreases cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, leads to a decline in the percentage of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle, induces apoptosis detected by Annexin V staining and increases caspase activity. Dose dependent apoptosis was cross verified by fluorescence and bright field microscopy through Annexin V/propidium iodine staining and morphological changes which characteristically attend programmed cell death. The apoptotic effect of haemanthamine and haemanthidine on leukemia cells is more pronounced than that of gamma radiation. Contrary to gamma radiation, Jurkat cells do not completely halt the cell cycle 24 h upon haemanthamine and haemanthidine exposure. Both Amaryllidaceae alkaloids accumulate cells preferentially at G1 and G2 stages of the cell cycle with increased p16 expression and Chk1 Ser345 phosphorylation. Concerning the pro-apoptotic effect, haemanthidine was more active than haemanthamine in the Jurkat leukemia cell line.     

胸腺细胞和细胞器水平的线粒体膜电势研究

以地塞米松(DEX)诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡;利用PI和AnneXin V/PI流式细胞术分别检测细胞晚期和早期凋亡;利用JC-1和DiOC_6(3)/PI在细胞水平检测凋亡中线粒体膜电势(△ψm)变化：抽提线粒体,利用JC-1直接染色技术检测现存线粒体△ψm情况。实验结果显示,DEX显著诱导胸腺细胞早期和晚期凋亡,凋亡细胞主要来自G_0/G_1期;细胞水平可见DEX介导与△ψm相关的J-aggregate和DiOC_6(3)可染性降低,同时介导线粒体数量显著降低,6h细胞膜完整性无显著变化：单纯线粒体检测结果显示,多数线粒体维持正常△ψm。提示,DEX介导胸腺细胞凋亡中线粒体数量降低,现存线粒体多保持着正常△ψm以维持凋亡过程细胞能量供给。     

Flow cytometric analysis of apoptotic subpopulations with a combination of annexin V-FITC, propidium iodide, and SYTO 17

BACKGROUND: We have previously characterized apoptotic cell death induced in a follicular lymphoma cell line, HF-1, after triggering via the B-cell receptor (BCR) or treatment with Ca(2+) Ionophore A23187. We analyzed the kinetics of apoptosis induced by these two treatments, as two alternative models of classical apoptosis, by flow cytometry using a novel combination of cytofluorometric stains. METHODS: Cells were stained with a combination of Annexin V-FITC, propidium iodide (PI), and SYTO 17 and analyzed by a two-laser flow cytometry system using 488-nm argon and 633-nm HeNe air-cooled lasers. RESULTS: In both apoptotic models, the first apoptotic cells were detected by SYTO 17 staining. The alteration in SYTO 17 staining intensity was followed by an increased uptake of PI. Finally, the apoptotic cells were labeled with Annexin V in BCR-induced apoptosis. On the contrary, on treatment with Ca(2+) Ionophore A23187, cells became positive for Annexin V earlier than for PI. CONCLUSIONS: The novel cytofluorometric dye, SYTO 17, discriminates apoptotic alterations before Annexin V and PI. PI also discriminates apoptotic alterations before the loss of plasma membrane asymmetry by BCR but not by Ca(2+) Ionophore A23187-induced apoptosis. Finally, the combination of these three cytofluorometric dyes allows effective detection of apoptotic subpopulations and ordering of apoptotic events by flow cytometry.     

Supravital exposure to propidium iodide identifies apoptosis on adherent cells

BACKGROUND: Several studies indicate that plasma membrane changes during apoptosis are a general phenomenon. Among the flow cytometric methods to measure apoptosis, the Annexin V assay that detects the membrane exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) is one of the most commonly used. However, the various treatments used for the detachment of adherent cells generally interfere with the binding of Annexin V to membrane PS, making apoptosis measurement a technical problem. Materials and Methods Apoptosis of different cell lines was investigated by fluorescence microscopy and multiple flow assays designed to assess loss of membrane integrity, translocation of PS, DNA fragmentation, and light scatter changes. Results and Conclusions We show that supravital propidium iodide (PI) assay stains adherent apoptotic cells, allowing flow cytometric quantification. Moreover, supravital exposure to PI without prior permeabilization identifies apoptotic cells as well as Annexin V and permits the simultaneous surface staining by FITC- and PE-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. As in the case of necrotic or permeabilized cells, fluorescence microscopy has revealed that PI staining of apoptotic cells is localized in the nucleus. This suggests that the binding of PI to the DNA/RNA structures is stable enough to withstand the trypsinization and/or washing procedures necessary to detach adherent cells.     

Activation of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in apoptotic signaling during UV-C-induced death of Jurkat cells: the role of caspase inhibition

We have examined UV irradiation-induced cell death in Jurkat cells and evaluated the relationships that exist between inhibition of caspase activity and the signaling mechanisms and pathways of apoptosis. Jurkat cells were irradiated with UV-C light, either with or without pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk (ZVAD), or the more selective caspase inhibitors z-IETD-fmk (IETD), z-LEHD-fmk (LEHD), and z-DEVD-fmk (DEVD). Flow cytometry was used to examine alterations in viability, cell size, plasma membrane potential (PMP), mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(mito)), intracellular Na(+) and K(+) concentrations, and DNA degradation. Processing of pro-caspases 3, 8, and 9 and the pro-apoptotic protein Bid was determined by Western blotting. UV-C irradiation of Jurkat cells resulted in characteristic apoptosis within 6 h after treatment and pretreatment of cells with ZVAD blocked these features. In contrast, pretreatment of the cells with the more selective caspase inhibitors under conditions that effectively blocked DNA degradation and inhibited caspase 3 and 8 processing as well as Bid cleavage had little protective effect on the other apoptotic characteristics examined. Thus, both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways are activated during UV-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells and this redundancy appears to assure cell death during selective caspase inhibition.     

Relationship between actin microfilaments and plasma membrane changes during apoptosis of neoplastic cell lines in different culture conditions

In this study we investigated the relationship between the reorganisation of actin cytoskeleton and the changes at cell surface level (i.e. PS exposure and blebbing) in two neoplastic cell lines during apoptosis: Chang liver cells (adherent culture) and promyelocytic HL-60 cells (suspension culture), treated with the podophyllotoxin derivative VP16. The morphological analysis, performed by means of conventional fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, on Chang cells showed that onset and progress of the two processes are synchronised. The initial disassembly of stress fibers was associated with the early PS exposure on the cell surface. Moreover, the accumulation of actin at cortical level appeared strongly associated with an intense labelling for Annexin V and, in some cases, especially in the areas of membrane blebbing. The double staining for actin and PS exposure, quantitatively analysed by flow cytometry in HL-60 cells after different treatment times, demonstrated that the decrease of Annexin V binding in the late stages of apoptosis is associated with the strong reduction of actin labelling probably also due to a proteolytic cleavage. These events were also partially related to variations of the functional state of mitochondria, by analysing cytofluorometrically the dissipation of the inner membrane potential (delta psi m).     

Shikonin inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of human HepG2 cells

This study investigated the potential of shikonin as an anticancer agent against liver cancer and an in vitro human hepatoma cancer model system. The HepG2 cell line was the hepatoma cancer model in the present study. The inhibitory effect of shikonin on the growth of HepG2 cells was measured by MTT assay. To explore the underlying mechanism of cell growth inhibition of shikonin, the cell cycle distribution, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) disruption, and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured in HepG2 cells. The activity of shikonin in inducing apoptosis was investigated through the detection of Annexin V signal and CD95 expression by flow cytometry and electron microscopy, respectively. Shikonin inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value (inhibiting cell growth by 50%) was 4.30 mg/mL. Shikonin inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and blocked HepG2 cell cycle progression at the S phase. The changes in mitochondrial morphology, dose-dependently decreased in ΔΨm, were observed in different concentrations of the drug treatment group. Western blot analysis showed that cajanol inhibited Bcl-2 expression and induced Bax expression. Furthermore, we show that shikonin increases Annexin V signal and CD95 (Fas/APO) expression, resulting in apoptotic cell death of HepG2 cells. In addition, lump formation of intranuclear chromatin, pyknosis of cell nucleus, deletion of microvillus, vacuolar degeneration of mitochondria, reduction of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and resolution of free ribosome, etc., associated with apoptosis were discovered by electron microscopy in HepG2 cells after 48 h treatment. Shikonin inhibited HepG2 cells, possibly through the pathway of inducing early apoptosis, and was beneficial for restoring the apoptotic sensitivity of HepG2 cells by CD95, and should therefore be considered as a candidate agent for the prevention or treatment of human hepatoma.