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Vol 7, No 3 (2022)
Original article
Published online: 2022-09-30
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Icaritin induces apoptosis and downregulates RhoA/ROCK pathway in the A549 adenocarcinoma cell line

Agnieszka Żuryń1, Adrian Krajewski1
·
Medical Research Journal 2022;7(3):242-248.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland

open access

Vol 7, No 3 (2022)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Published online: 2022-09-30

Abstract

Introduction: Icaritin is a prenylflavonoid derivative from a traditional Chinese herb, Epimedium Genus. Icaritin exerts its anti-tumour effects in various cancers mainly by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis, and suppressing cell migration and invasion. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of icaritin on apoptosis, cell cycle, and expression of selected cell cycle proteins: RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the A549 cell line.

Methods: Apoptosis and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. Protein expression was measured by conducting a western blot assay and immunofluorescence staining.

Results and conclusions: The study revealed that icaritin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase in A549 cells. The authors showed that icaritin activates the p53 protein and downregulates Rho/ROCK pathway. Additionally, the decrease in expression of thrombospondin-1 was observed which can be part of the cytoprotective response of A549 cells on ICT treatment.

Abstract

Introduction: Icaritin is a prenylflavonoid derivative from a traditional Chinese herb, Epimedium Genus. Icaritin exerts its anti-tumour effects in various cancers mainly by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis, and suppressing cell migration and invasion. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of icaritin on apoptosis, cell cycle, and expression of selected cell cycle proteins: RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the A549 cell line.

Methods: Apoptosis and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. Protein expression was measured by conducting a western blot assay and immunofluorescence staining.

Results and conclusions: The study revealed that icaritin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase in A549 cells. The authors showed that icaritin activates the p53 protein and downregulates Rho/ROCK pathway. Additionally, the decrease in expression of thrombospondin-1 was observed which can be part of the cytoprotective response of A549 cells on ICT treatment.

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Keywords

RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2, lung cancer, icaritin (ICT), cell death, thrombospondin-1

About this article
Title

Icaritin induces apoptosis and downregulates RhoA/ROCK pathway in the A549 adenocarcinoma cell line

Journal

Medical Research Journal

Issue

Vol 7, No 3 (2022)

Article type

Original article

Pages

242-248

Published online

2022-09-30

Page views

3769

Article views/downloads

293

DOI

10.5603/MRJ.2022.0045

Bibliographic record

Medical Research Journal 2022;7(3):242-248.

Keywords

RhoA
ROCK1
ROCK2
lung cancer
icaritin (ICT)
cell death
thrombospondin-1

Authors

Agnieszka Żuryń
Adrian Krajewski

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