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Introduction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is almost uniformly lethal with an estimated annual number of 45,220 new cases approximating 38,460 annual deaths and a 5-year survival rate of <5% (1–3). Late initial diagnosis, aggressive metastatic behavior and resistance to chemoradiotherapy render pancreatic cancer one of the most difficult to treat of all malignancies. Surgical resection is potentially curative in a minority of patients; however, >80% of the patients are diagnosed with locally advanced disease that precludes surgical intervention. Systemic gemcitabine alone or in combination with 5-FU, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) is the current standard of care for advanced pancreatic cancer, providing short-term symptomatic improvement with minor impact on survival (4–6). Thus, there is an urgent need for developing novel agents for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Trichothecenes are structurally related low molecular weight sequiterpenoid metabolites produced by filamentous fungi, such as Myrothecium, Stachybotrys, Fusarium and others (7). Trichothecenes are potent mycotoxins that are believed to be responsible for adverse respiratory and neurological effects of damp and moldy indoor environments (8–10). They elicit a wide range of biological responses in eukaryotic cells, including inhibition of protein synthesis and cell proliferation; induction of cytotoxicity, ribotoxic stress responses and modulation of immune responses (11–16). Verrucarin A (VC-A) is a macrocyclic trichothecene that evokes strong antiproliferative and proapoptotic responses in cancer cells (17–20). There is some evidence that the antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of VC-A are due to the inhibition of protein synthesis through blocking of peptidyl transferase activity and activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (c-JNK) and p-38 MAP kinase (14,17,18).

In a previous report, VC-A was identified as a major mediator of the anticancer activity in salt water cultures of Myrothecium verrucaria isolated from a sponge species collected in Hawaii (21). However, the mode of cell death or the mechanism by which VC-A kills tumor cells was not investigated in that study.

In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of verrucarin A against PDA cell lines. Data showed that VC-A inhibits the proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest in S phase by inhibiting cell cycle-related regulatory proteins. VC-A induced apoptosis in PDA cells through the activation of procaspases, induction of mitochondrial depolarization and inhibition of Bcl-2 and IAP family of proteins that regulate apoptosis. In addition, VC-A also inhibited prosurvival signaling proteins (e.g., p-Akt, NF-κB and p-mTOR) and their downstream mediators.

Materials and methods

Reagents

Verrucarin A isolated from salt water cultures of Myrothecium verrucaria separated from Spongia Sp. was obtained from Dr Phillip Crews, University of California, Santa Cruz. Anti-caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 antibodies were purchased from BD Pharmingen (San Diego, CA, USA). Antibodies against p-Akt (ser473), p-mTOR (Ser2448), PARP-1, anti-NF-κB (p65), anti-Bcl-2, anti-Bcl-xL, anti-Bax, anti-Bak, anti-Bad and β-actin were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). Anti-cdk2, cdk4, cdk6, anti-cyclin D, anti-cyclin E and anti-p21 antibodies were from Cell Signaling Technology (Boston, MA, USA). 96 AQueous One Solution Proliferation assay system was from Promega (Madison, WI, USA). Stock solution of VC-A (2 mM) was prepared in DMSO and all test concentrations were prepared by diluting stock solution in tissue culture medium.

Cell lines

MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1 and BxPC-3 PDA cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, MD, USA). MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 cell lines were grown in DMEM tissue culture medium whereas BxPC-3 cells were cultured in RPMI-16 (Gibco BRL, Rockville, MD, USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 1% penicillin/streptomycin, and 25 mM HEPES buffer. Cells were incubated at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere consisting of 5% CO2, 95% air and maintained by splitting cultures twice a week.

MTS assay

Tumor cells (1×104) in 100 μl of tissue culture medium were seeded into each well of a 96-well plate. After 24-h incubation to allow cells to adhere, cells were treated with VC-A at concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.625 μM. Cultures were incubated for additional 72 h and cell viability was then determined by the colorimetric MTS assay using CellTiter 96 AQueous One Solution Proliferation assay system from Promega (Madison), which measures the bioreduction of tetrazolium compound MTS in the presence of electron-coupling reagent phenazine methosulfate. The absorbance, which is directly proportional to the number of viable cells in the cultures, was measured at 490 nm using a microplate reader.

Cell cycle analysis

The distribution of cells in various cell cycle phases was analyzed by measuring cellular DNA content. Untreated (control) (2×106) or VC-A-treated cells were fixed in 70% ethanol overnight at 4°C. Cells were washed twice and resuspended in 0.8 ml of PBS. To each tube, 100 μl of DNAse free RNAse (500 μg/ml) and 100 μl of propidium iodide (500 μg/ml) was added and tubes were incubated at room temperature in the dark for 30 min. Cellular DNA content was determined by flow cytometry using Accuri C6 flow cytometer (Accuri Cytometers Inc. Ann Arbor, MI, USA).

Annexin V-FITC binding

Induction of apoptosis was assessed by the binding of Annexin V to phosphatidylserine, which is externalized to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane early during apoptosis. Briefly, MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells treated with VC-A (0-0.625 μM) for 24 h were resuspended in the binding buffer provided in Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit II (BD Biosciences, Pharmingen). Cells were mixed with 5 μl of Annexin V-FITC reagent, 5 μl of PI, and incubated for 30 min at room temperature in the dark. Stained cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Mitochondrial depolarization assay

Alteration in mitochondrial potential by VC-A was determined using mitochondrial potential sensor dye JC-1 (Molecular Probes, Invitrogen, San Diego, CA, USA). Briefly, 1×106 control (untreated) and VC-A- treated cells in 1 ml culture medium were loaded with JC-1 (10 μg/ml) for 10 min at 22°C and analyzed by flow cytometry. In normal cells, dye is aggregated in mitochondria, fluoresces red, and is detected in the FL2 channel. In cells with altered mitochondrial potential, the dye fails to accumulate in the mitochondria, remains as monomers in the cytoplasm, fluoresces green, and is detected in the FL1 channel.

Western blotting

Cell lysates were prepared by detergent lysis [1% Triton-X 100 (v/v), 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM EDTA, 150 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 2 mM sodium vanadate, 5 μg/ml leupeptin, 1 μg/ml aprotinin, 1 μg/ml pepstatin A and 10 μg/ml 4-2-aminoethyl-benzenesulfinyl fluoride]. Lysates were clarified by centrifugation at 14,000 x g for 10 min at 4°C, and protein concentrations were determined by Bradford assay. Samples (50 μg) were boiled in an equal volume of sample buffer [20% glycerol, 4% SDS, 0.2% bromophenol blue, 125 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), and 640 mM 2-mercaptoethanol] and separated on 10% SDS-polyacrilamide gels. Proteins resolved on the gels were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were blocked with 5% milk in 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 150 mM NaCl with 0.05% Tween-20 (TPBS) and incubated with protein specific antibodies followed by HRP-conjugated secondary antibody. Immune complexes were visualized with enhanced chemiluminescence detection system from Amersham Corp. (Arlington Heights, IL, USA). The immunoblots were imaged and the density of protein bands was analyzed using Image/J software (imagej/nih.gov/ij/download/). The protein band densities were normalized to the corresponding β-actin levels and presented as fraction of untreated control considered as 1.0.

Statistical analysis

Data are presented as means ± SD. The differences between control and treatment groups were analyzed using Student’s t-test and differences with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

VC-A inhibits proliferation and cell cycle progression in PDA cells

The effect of VC-A on proliferation of MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1 and BxPC-3 PDA cells was examined using the MTS assay. For this, cells were treated with VC-A at concentrations of 0–0.625 μM for 72 h and the viability of cultures was determined. As shown in Fig. 1, significant reduction in viability was observed at the lowest concentration of 0.019 μM VC-A (MiaPaCa-2 = 36±1.4 SD; Panc-1 = 57±1.8 SD, p<0.05). BxPC-3 cultures also showed measurable reduction in viability at 0.019 μM VC-A (21±0.6 SD). In all three cell lines, reduction in viability significantly increased at VC-A concentrations of 0.039–0.625 μM (MiaPaCa-2 = 63–80% reduction; Panc-1 = 57–78% reduction; BxPC-3 = 75–86% reduction, p<0.01). These data demonstrated potent antiproliferative activity of VC-A against PDA cells.

Figure 1 Verrucarin A inhibits proliferation of PDA cells. MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1 and BxPC-3 cells (1×104/well) were seeded in a 96-well plate for 24 h. Cells were then treated with VC-A at concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.625 μM for 72 h in triplicate. Cell viability was measured by MTS assay using CellTiter AQueous assay system. *p<0.05 compared to control cells. Experiment was repeated three times.

In a previous report, VC-A was demonstrated to be 6–10-fold less cytotoxic to normal bone marrow cells compared to cancer cell lines (21). In addition, VC-A was also inactive or only weekly active against non-cancerous Vero cells derived from monkey kidney compared to cancer cell lines (12).

Verrucarin A induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits cell cycle-related regulatory proteins in PDA cells

Since VC-A inhibited the proliferation of PDA cells we investigated its effect on cell cycle progression and cellular proteins that regulate cell division. For effect on cell cycle progression, MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (0–0.04 μM) for 24 h, stained with PI and cellular DNA content was analyzed by flow cytometry. Treatment with VC-A resulted in arrest of cells in the S cell cycle phase in both cell lines (Fig. 2A). In MiaPaCa-2 cells, the accumulation of cells in S phase was VC-A concentration-dependent (e.g., 17–27% at 0–0.04 μM VC-A), whereas in BxPC-3 cells all of the S-phase arrest occurred at 0.04 μM VC-A. To determine the effect of VC-A on cell cycle regulatory proteins, cell lysates of MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells treated with VC-A (0.078–0.625 μM) for 24 h were analyzed for the levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4 and WAF1/21 (p21) by western blotting. As shown in Fig. 2B, treatment with VC-A reduced the levels of these proteins mostly in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggested that VC-A arrests PDA cells in S cell cycle phase by inhibiting cell cycle regulatory proteins.

Figure 2 Effect of verrucarin A on cell cycle progression and cell cycle regulatory proteins. (A) Effect on cell cycle progression. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (0–0.08 μM) for 48 h. Cells were fixed in 70% ethanol and then stained with ethidium bromide. The cell cycle distribution was determined by analyzing cellular DNA content by flow cytometry using Accuri 6 flow cytometer (Becton-Dickinson). (B) Effect of cell cycle-regulatory proteins. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (0–0.625 μM) for 24 h and cell lysates were analyzed for levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4 and p21 by western blotting. The densitometry analysis of immunoblots was performed using Image/J software and normalized to the corresponding β-actin values. Values above blots represent change in protein expression compared to untreated control considered as 1.0. Experiment was repeated two times.

VC-A induces apoptosis in PDA cells

Whether cell cycle arrest leads to the induction of apoptosis was investigated next. Induction of apoptosis was by analyzed by the binding of Annexin V-FITC to cells treated with VC-A. Thus, MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (0.078–0.625 μM) for 24 h and binding of Annexin V-FITC was determined by flow cytometry. As shown in Fig. 3A, only a small percentage of untreated MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells bound Annexin V-FITC (<5%). The percentage of Annexin V-FITC binding MiaPaCa-2 increased from 51% at 0.078 μM to 57% at 0.625 VC-A (p<0.01). On the other hand, the percentage of Annexin V-FITC binding BxPC-3 cells increased in a dose-dependent manner, e.g., 24, 31, 3 and 43% at 0.078, 0.15, 0.325 and 0.625 μM VC-A.

Figure 3 Verrucarin A induces apoptosis in PDA cells. (A) Annexin V-FITC binding. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (0–0.625 μM) for 24 h. Cells were then reacted with 5 μl of Annexin V-FITC reagent and 5 μl of PI for 30 min at room temperature. Annexin V-FITC-binding was assessed by flow cytometry. Results are presented as percentage of Annexin V-FITC-positive cells ± SD of three separate experiments. *p<0.05 compared to control cells. (B) Cleavage of PARP-1. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A as in (A) and cell lysates were analyzed for the cleavage of native PARP-1 by western blotting. Immunoblots show cleaved PARP-1 protein bands (89 kDa). (C) Cleavage of procaspases. Tumor cells were treated with VC-A as in (A) and cell lysates were analyzed by immunoblotting for processing of procaspases-3, -8 and -9. The densitometry analysis of immunoblots in (B) and (C) was performed using Image/J software and normalized to the corresponding β-actin values. Values above blots represent change in protein expression compared to untreated control considered as 1.0. Similar results were obtained in two independent experiments.

The induction of apoptosis by VC-A was confirmed by the cleavage of PARP-1 and procaspases. Tumor cells were treated with VC-A as described above and the cleavage of PARP-1 and procaspases was analyzed by western blotting. As shown in Fig. 3B, treatment with VC-A induced the cleavage of native PARP-1 (110-kDa fragment) as identified by the emergence of an 89-kDa cleaved PARP-1 fragment in both cell lines. Treatment with VC-A also induced the processing of procaspases-3,-8 and -9 as determined from a decrease in native proteins (procaspases-3 and -8) or the emergence of the cleaved fragments (procaspase-9) (Fig. 3C). However, the effect of VC-A on the activity of these caspases was not determined. Together, increase in Annexin V-FITC-binding and the cleavage of PARP-1 and processing of procaspases-3, -8 and -9 demonstrated induction of apoptosis in PDA cells by VC-A.

VC-A induces mitochondrial depolarization and release of cytochrome c

Whether mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis was involved in the apoptotic cell death of PDA cells by VC-A was examined next. As a measure of mitochondrial involvement in induction of apoptosis by VC-A, we evaluated mitochondrial depolarization in cells treated with VC-A. Thus, MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (0–0.625 μM) for 24 h and then loaded with mitochondrial-potential sensor probe JC-1 and fluorescence emission was analyzed by flow cytometry. There was significant change in the mitochondrial potential in both cell lines after treatment with VC-A. As shown in Fig. 4A, the percentage of MiaPaCa-2 cells with green fluorescence significantly increased from 3% at 0 μM VC-A to 29, 42, 44 and 48% at 0.078–0.625 μM VC-A (p<0.01). VC-A also showed strong mitochondrial depolarizing effect on BxPC-3 cells (e.g., 5, 39, 53, 66 and 62% of cells with green fluorescence at 0, 0.078, 0.156, 0.312 and 0.625 μM VC-A, p<0.01).

Figure 4 VC-A induces mitochondrial depolarization and release of cytochrome c. (A) Mitochondrial depolirazation. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells with VC-A (0–0.625 μM for 24 h. Cells were then loaded with mitochondrial sensor dye JC-1 for 10 min and analyzed by flow cytometry. Data shown are percentage of cells with mitochondrial depolarization ± SD. Similar results were obtained in two separate experiments. *p<0.05 compared to control cells. (B) Cytochrome c release. For cytochrome c release from mitochondria, mitochondrial fractions were prepared from control and treated cells using ApoAlert Cell Fractionation kit (Clontech, Laboratories Inc., CA, USA) and cytochrome c analyzed by western blotting. The densitometry analysis of immunoblots was performed using Image/J software and normalized to the corresponding Cox-IV values. Values above blots represent change in protein expression compared to untreated control considered as 1.0. Similar results were obtained in two independent experiments in (A) and (B).

We also analyzed the effect of VC-A on the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Western blot analysis of mitochondrial fraction of MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells treated with VC-A (0–0.625 μM) demonstrated the release of cytochrome c in both cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner (Fig. 4B). Taken together, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria indicated that mitochondrial damage plays a significant role in apoptotic cell death of PDA cells by VC-A.

VC-A does not induce ROS generation

Since generation of free radicals is part of the mechanism by which most chemotherapeutic agents induce apoptosis in cancer cells we evaluated the generation of ROS by VC-A in PDA cells. This was accomplished by detecting H2O2 production by flow cytometry using H2DCFDA fluorescent probe. As shown in Fig. 5, whereas treatment of MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells with H2O2 resulted in production of hydroxyl radicals (positive control) treatment with VC-A at 1.25 and 2.5 μM for 2 h failed to induce the generation of these free radicals. Further, no ROS was detected either when cells were treated with VC-A for 1 or 4 h (not shown).

Figure 5 VC-A does not induce ROS generation in PDA cells. Subconfluent cultures of MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A (1.25 or 2.5 μM) or H2O2 (100 μM) for 2 h. Cells were then reacted with 5 μM H2DCFDA for 30 min at 37°C and DCF fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry. In contrast to PDA cells treated with H2O2 (positive control), none to barely detectable DCF fluorescence was detected in cells treated with VC-A. Experiment was repeated two times.

VC-A downregulates Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins

To further characterize apoptotic response of PDA cells to VC-A, the effect of VC-A on proteins belonging to the Bcl-2 and IAP families of proteins that regulate apoptosis positively and negatively was determined. For this, cell lysates prepared from MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells treated or not with VC-A (0.079–0.625 μM) for 24 h were analyzed for Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, p-Bad, survivin and c-IAP-2 by western blotting. As shown in Fig. 6, treatment with VC-A significantly to completely inhibited the levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in both cell lines. Proapoptotic Bax was unaffected in MiaPaCa-2 cells but was reduced in BxPC-3 cells. Even though Bax levels were somewhat reduced in BxPC-3 cells but the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was increased 2–3-fold in both cell lines treated with VC-A (e.g., MiaPaCa-2: 2.7-, 2.7-, 3.2- and 2.7-fold; BxPC-3: 3-, 2-, 3- and 2-fold at 0.079, 0.158, 0.312 and 0.625 μM, respectively). Proapototic p-Bad was also reduced but still detectable in both cell lines. Similarly, antiapoptotic survivin (IAP family member) was significantly reduced in both cell lines (60–80%). On the other hand, while cIAP-2 was markedly reduced at 0.312 and 0.625 μM VC-A in MiaPaCa-2 cells, effect on c-IAP-2 expression in BxPC-3 cells was minimal. Overall, these data suggested that inhibition of antiapoptotic proteins plays a role in induction of apoptosis by VC-A in PDA cells.

Figure 6 Effect of VC-A on apoptosis-regulating proteins. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A at 0–0.065 μM for 24 h and cell lysates were analyzed for Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, p-Bad, survivin and c-IAP-2 by western blotting. The densitometry analysis of immunoblots was performed using Image/J software and normalized to the corresponding β-actin values. Values above blots represent change in protein expression compared to untreated control considered as 1.0. Experiment was repeated two times.

VC-A inhibits Akt, mTOR and NF-κB signaling proteins and their downstream mediators

Akt/NF-κB/mTOR is a major antiapoptotic (prosurvival) signaling pathway that confers survival advantage in cancer cells including PDA cells. We investigated whether induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by VC-A involved the inhibition of Akt, mTOR and NF-κB and their downstream mediators. Thus, cell lysates prepared from MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells treated or not with VC-A (0–0.625 μM) for 24 h were analyzed for p-Akt, mTOR and NF-κB and their effectors by western blotting. Treatment with VC-A markedly reduced the levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR and NF-κB (p65) in both cell lines (Fig. 7). Further analysis of cell lysates showed that VC-A also inhibited the major downstream intermediary targets of Akt, mTOR and NF-κB. For instance, VC-A inhibited the expression of p-Foxo-3α, the downstream target of activated Akt involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Similarly, the levels of mTOR effectors such as p-S6K1 (p-70S6 kinase) and p-eIF-4e were markedly decreased after treatment with VC-A. In addition, the levels of angiogenesis related Cox-2 and VEGF, which are transcriptionally regulated by NF-κB were also markedly reduced. Collectively, these data suggested that the inhibition of p-Akt, p-mTOR, NF-κB and their downstream mediators might be necessary for induction of apoptosis in PDA tumors by VC-A.

Figure 7 VC-A inhibits prosurvival p-Akt, NF-κB and p-mTOR. MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with VC-A at 0–0.625 μM for 24 h and cell lysates were analyzed for p-Akt, NF-κB, p-mTOR and their downstream mediators (p-Foxo3α, Cox-2, VEGF, p-70S6, and p-eIF-4e, etc.) or β-actin (loading control) by western blotting. The densitometry analysis of immunoblots was performed using Image/J software and normalized to the corresponding β-actin values. Values above blots represent change in protein expression compared to untreated control considered as 1.0. Experiment was repeated two times.

Discussion

There is an urgent need for effective and safe novel agents with defined therapeutic targets for treating pancreatic cancer. Natural products have long been recognized as a rich source of chemical diversity and compounds with a wide spectrum of anticancer activities (22,23). Indeed, isolation and identification of bioactive components from medicinal plants have led to the synthesis of potent anticancer drugs, including Vinca alkaloids, taxol, camptothecan, etoposide and retinoids. Verrucarin A (VC-A) is a macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxin that has shown strong antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity in breast cancer cells (17,18), providing some insights into the mode of action of VC-A. However, the antitumor activity or the mechanism of action of VC-A in pancreatic cancer cells has not been investigated. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate the antitumor activity and to identify targets of VC-A in PDA cells. VC-A inhibited the proliferation of three PDA cell lines (e.g., MiaCa-2, Panc1 and BxPC-3) at very low concentrations. The antiproliferative effect of VC-A was attributed to the inhibition of cell cycle progression in S phase. This finding however differs from a previous report in which VC-A was shown to arrest cells in G0/G1 phase (17). Furthermore, cell cycle arrest by VC-A was associated with the inhibition of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk-4 and cdk inhibitor p21. Cyclin D and E in conjunction with cdk2, cdk4 and cdk6 regulate cell cycle progression through G1 and S phases. The inhibition of cyclin E and cdk2 suggests that inhibition of these proteins would result in decreased formation of cyclin E-cdk2 complexes and therefore accumulation of cells in S phase. The cip/kip family member p21 halts cell cycle progression by inhibiting cyclin-cdk complexes. VC-A only partially reduced p21 in PDA cells, perhaps not enough to hamper the activity of cyclin E-cdk2 complexes.

The inability to induce apoptosis has been implicated in cancer development and resistance to cancer therapies (24). On the other hand, promotion of apoptosis in cancer cells could potentially lead to tumor regression and improved prognosis (25). The inhibition of cell proliferation by anticancer agents normally forces tumor cells to undergo apoptosis. Indeed, VC-A induced apoptosis in PDA cells as demonstrated by the increased binding of Annexin V and cleavage of PARP-1 and procaspases-3, -8 and -9. These results corroborate the findings of another study that also reported cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells by VC-A (17). The cleavage of procaspases-8 and -9 suggested that VC-A induces both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis. However, additional studies, such as an increase in the expression of death receptors DR4 and DR5, are required to confirm the activation of extrinsic pathway of apoptosis by VC-A. Mitochondria plays a critical role in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Breakdown in mitochondrial integrity and the release of cytochrome c and other apoptogenic mediators are the best indicators of apoptotic cell death via the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. VC-A induced mitochondrial depolarization and release of cytochrome c indicating the involvement of mitochondrial or intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in death of PDA cells by VC-A.

The generation of free radicals facilitates cancer cell death by most chemotherapeutic agents and ionizing radiation (26,27). Our findings demonstrated that production of hydrogen peroxide is not involved in death of PDA cells by VC-A. This finding contradicts a previous report in which ROS was shown to be involved in killing of breast cancer by VC-A (17). Our results, however, do not rule out participation of other reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion in VC-A induced death of PDA cells.

Apoptosis is regulated by members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins that includes both pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules (28,29). Members of the IAP family are also potent inhibitors of apoptosis (30). Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL are two major antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members that reside in the mitochondrial membrane and inhibit apoptosis by preventing the activation of inner mitochondrial permeability transition pore and release of proapoptogenic mitochondrial contents including cytochrome c (29). VC-A inhibited Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in PDA cells. Bax and p-Bad which counteract antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were either not affected or only partially reduced by VC-A. Since both anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members were inhibited or reduced the exact nature of the interplay between antiapoptotic and proapoptotic members of Bcl-2 family in induction of apoptosis in PDA cells by VC-A remains unresolved. On the contrary, however, increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio after treatment with VC-A suggests that VC-A may exert proapoptotic effect by displacing Bcl-2 from mitochondria through Bax.

Prosurvival phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt/NF-κB/mTOR (PI3K/Akt/NF-κB/mTOR) is a major signaling axis which controls cell proliferation, survival, apoptosis, and malignant transformation (31). PI3K/Akt signaling is frequently activated in a variety of malignancies (32). p-Akt promotes cell growth and survival by inactivating downstream substrates such as Bad, procaspase-9, and Forkhead transcription factors (33,34). Antiapoptotic NF-κB and progrowth mTOR signaling pathways are downstream targets of activated Akt. NF-κB family of transcription factors controls the expression of genes involved in immune and inflammatory responses, cell proliferation, oncogenesis, angiogenesis, and several Bcl-2 family members (35). NF-κB also plays a critical role in resistance of cancer cells to anticancer therapies by protecting them from apoptosis. mTOR, a 290-kDa serine-threonine kinase, which controls cell growth, survival and division is activated in a variety of human tumors (36). Our results demonstrated that Akt, NF-κB and mTOR are constitutively active in PDA cells and their expression was inhibited by VC-A. VC-A also reduced the expression of several downstream effectors of Akt, NF-κB and mTOR that regulate cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and ribogenesis. These findings suggest that the inhibition of Akt/NF-κB/mTOR signal transduction pathway plays a critical role in induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells by VC-A.

Collectively, results of this study indicate that VC-A is a promising agent worthy of further development for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an institutional grant A10176 to S.C.G.

References