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Curcumin induces apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway in HT-29 cells

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of curcumin on release of cytochrome c and expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Bad, Bcl-xL, caspase-3, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and survivin of HT-29 cells. Methods: HT-29 cells were treated with curcumin (0∼80 μmol/L) for 24 h. The release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and the apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bad, caspase-3, PARP, and survivin were determined by Western blot analysis and their mRNA expressions by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

Curcumin significantly induced the growth inhibition and apoptosis of HT-29 cells. A decrease in expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and survivin was observed after exposure to 10∼80 μmol/L curcumin, while the levels of Bax and Bad increased in the curcumin-treated cells. Curcumin also induced the release of cytochrome c, the activation of caspase-3, and the cleavage of PARP in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

These data suggest that curcumin induced the HT-29 cell apoptosis possibly via the mitochondria-mediated pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Jin-bo Wang & Tian-xing Wu

  2. Ningbo Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, 315100, China

    Jin-bo Wang, Li-li Qi & Shui-di Zheng

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  1. Jin-bo Wang
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  2. Li-li Qi
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  4. Tian-xing Wu
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Correspondence to Tian-xing Wu.

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Project (No. 2006C12098) supported by the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province, China

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Wang, Jb., Qi, Ll., Zheng, Sd. et al. Curcumin induces apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway in HT-29 cells. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 10, 93–102 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820238

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820238

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