Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Induction of Apoptosis by Aqueous Extract of Cordyceps militaris Through Activation of Caspases and Inactivation of Akt in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells

  • Jin, Cheng-Yun (Department of Biomaterial Control (BK21 Program), Dongeui University Graduate School Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Gi-Young (Faculty of Applied Marine Science, Cheju National University) ;
  • Choi, Yung-Hyun (Department of Biomaterial Control (BK21 Program), Dongeui University Graduate School Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine)
  • Published : 2008.12.31
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Abstract

Cordyceps militaris is well known as a traditional medicinal mushroom and has been shown to exhibit immunostimulatory and anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis induced by an aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM) via the activation of caspases and altered mitochondrial membrane permeability in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Exposure to AECM induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by a quantitative analysis of nuclear morphological change and a flow cytometric analysis. AECM increased hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and promoted the activation of caspases. Both the cytotoxic effect and apoptotic characteristics induced by AECM treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrates the important role of caspase-3 in the observed cytotoxic effect. AECM-induced apoptosis was associated with the inhibition of Akt activation in a time-dependent manner, and pretreatment with LY294002, a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, significantly increased AECM-induced apoptosis. The results indicated that AECM-induced apoptosis may relate to the activation of caspase-3 and mitochondria dysfunctions that correlate with the inactivation of Akt.

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References

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