%0 Journal Article
%T β-Sitosterol sensitizes MDA-MB-231 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis
%A Park Cheol
%A Moon Dong-oh
%A Ryu Chung-ho
%A Choi Byung tae
%A Lee Won ho
%A Kim Gi-young
%A Choi Yung hyun
%J Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
%D 2016
%B 2016
%9 
%! β-Sitosterol sensitizes MDA-MB-231 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis
%K 
%X  Aim:   To investigate whether subtoxic concentration of β-sitosterol (SITO) combined with TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.   Methods:   Cell viability and growth were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphnyl-2H-tetrazolim bromide assays, chromatin condensation, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Annexin V + cells. The apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting.   Results:   Treatment with TRAIL in combination with subtoxic concentrations of SITO sensitized MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. The synergistic treatment induced chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, the release of LDH, and Annexin V + cells. The indicators of apoptosis are correlated to the induction of caspase activities, which results in the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase. Both the cytotoxic effects and apoptotic characteristics induced by the synergistic treatment were significantly inhibited by a pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, demonstrating the important role of caspases. These results indicate that caspases are crucial regulators of apoptosis induced by the combined treatment of SITO and TRAIL in MDA-MB-231 cells.   Conclusion:   The synergistic treatment of SITO and TRAIL induces apoptosis, which can serve as a potential preventive and therapeutic agent.
%U http://www.chinaphar.com/article/view/5517
%V 29
%N 3
%P 341–348
%@ 1745-7254