Abstract
β-elemene is an active component of a natural plant-derived antineoplastic agent. Although the anticancer activity of β-elemene has been reported, its antitumor mechanism has not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate how Cbl-regulated Akt and ERK affect β-elemene-induced cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells. In the present study, β-elemene induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells. Moreover, β-elemene decreased bcl-2 expression, increased bax expression and caused the cleavage of PARP. However, β-elemene also induced the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK in a short period of time. The inhibition of Akt and ERK activation rapidly enhanced β-elemene-induced apoptosis, and the up-regulation of c-Cbl and Cbl-b expression was also detected. These results suggest that Cbl-regulated Akt and ERK signals are involved in β-elemene-induced cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Chromones / pharmacology
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
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Flavonoids / pharmacology
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Humans
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Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Morpholines / pharmacology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / metabolism*
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Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*
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Sesquiterpenes / therapeutic use
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Signal Transduction / drug effects*
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Chromones
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Flavonoids
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Morpholines
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Sesquiterpenes
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beta-elemene
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2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
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2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one