Inhibition of Telomerase Activity in U937 Human Monocytic Leukemia Cells by Compound K, a Ginseng Saponin Metabolite

  • Kang Kyoung-Ah (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Cheju National University) ;
  • Lee Kyoung-Hwa (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Cheju National University) ;
  • Chae Sung-Wook (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Cheju National University) ;
  • Kim Jeong-Ki (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Cheju National University) ;
  • Seo Jung-Yeon (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Cheju National University) ;
  • Ham Yong-Ho (Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences) ;
  • Lee Kee-Ho (Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences) ;
  • Kim Bum-Joon (Department of Microbiology and Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim Hee-Sun (Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Kim Dong-Hyun (Department of Microbial Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Hyun Jin Won (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Cheju National University)
  • Published : 2006.01.01

Abstract

Telomerase activation is detected in most cancerous cells; hence, telomerase is a highly selective target for cancer therapy, which plays an important role in the apoptotic process. We have previously reported that the ginseng saponin metabolite, Compound K (20-O-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol, IH901), inhibits cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the $G_1$ phase. The present study investigated the regulation of telomerase activity in Compound K treated U937 cells. Compound K treatment caused a reduction in telomerase activity and down-regulated the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, resulting in the decreased expressions of its protein, and of the c-Myc and Spl proteins (transcription factors of hTERT). These results indicate that the anticancer activity of Compound K could be mediated by inhibition of the telomerase activity.

Keywords

References

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