Molecules 2011, 16(9), 7803-7814; doi:10.3390/molecules16097803
Article

Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine, a Novel Camptothecin Analogue, Induces Apoptosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells

Qingyong Li* email, Wei Qiuemail, Qiaochu Zhuemail, Yuangang Zu, Xiaoqiu Dengemail, Tengfei Zhaoemail, Chunfei Jiangemail and Li Zhangemail
The Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 28 July 2011; in revised form: 25 August 2011 / Accepted: 6 September 2011 / Published: 13 September 2011
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Abstract: Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine (B2) is a novel camptothecin analogue. Our previous study had shown that it displayed higher cytoxicity activity towards hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells than camptothecin (CPT) in vitro. In this paper, the underlying mechanism of anti-proliferation of B2 towards SMMC-7721 cells was further examined. Cell growth inhibition of B2 was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; morphological changes were observed under Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM); cell cycle distribution, apoptotic population, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular calcium concentration and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were measured, and the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were analyzed by Western blot. The results suggested that B2 inhibited SMMC-7721 cell growth by causing cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases, and induced apoptosis involving a mitochondrial pathway. B2 appears to cause a high induction of apoptosis on SMMC-7721 cells in vitro, which suggests it might be a potential drug for cancer therapy.
Keywords: camptothecin analogue; apoptosis; hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell

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MDPI and ACS Style

Li, Q.; Qiu, W.; Zhu, Q.; Zu, Y.; Deng, X.; Zhao, T.; Jiang, C.; Zhang, L. Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine, a Novel Camptothecin Analogue, Induces Apoptosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells. Molecules 2011, 16, 7803-7814.

AMA Style

Li Q, Qiu W, Zhu Q, Zu Y, Deng X, Zhao T, Jiang C, Zhang L. Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine, a Novel Camptothecin Analogue, Induces Apoptosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells. Molecules. 2011; 16(9):7803-7814.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Qingyong; Qiu, Wei; Zhu, Qiaochu; Zu, Yuangang; Deng, Xiaoqiu; Zhao, Tengfei; Jiang, Chunfei; Zhang, Li. 2011. "Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine, a Novel Camptothecin Analogue, Induces Apoptosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells." Molecules 16, no. 9: 7803-7814.

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