Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Xuewen Tian
    • Yujian Li
    • Yinyu Shen
    • Qiaoqiao Li
    • Qinglu Wang
    • Lianshi Feng
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 27, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3273
  • Pages: 595-599
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Cordycepin, a 3-deoxyadenosine, is the predominant functional component of the fungus Cordyceps militaris, a traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies investigating the inhibition of cancer cells by cordycepin identified that it not only promotes cell apoptosis, but also controls cell proliferation. Furthermore, studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms of inhibiting cell proliferation by cordycepin binding the A3 adenosine receptor, activating G protein, inhibiting cAMP formation, decreasing glycogen synthase kinase‑3β/β‑catenin activation and suppressing cyclin D1 and c‑myc expression. The most significant signaling pathway in which cell apoptosis is induced by cordycepin is the caspase pathway. Cordycepin induces cell apoptosis via binding the DR3 receptor and consequently activating caspase‑8/‑3. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that cordycepin may be used as a natural medicine, as it can not only control tumor cell proliferation, but also induce cancer cell apoptosis.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2015
Volume 10 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Tian X, Li Y, Shen Y, Li Q, Wang Q and Feng L: Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin (Review). Oncol Lett 10: 595-599, 2015.
APA
Tian, X., Li, Y., Shen, Y., Li, Q., Wang, Q., & Feng, L. (2015). Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin (Review). Oncology Letters, 10, 595-599. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3273
MLA
Tian, X., Li, Y., Shen, Y., Li, Q., Wang, Q., Feng, L."Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin (Review)". Oncology Letters 10.2 (2015): 595-599.
Chicago
Tian, X., Li, Y., Shen, Y., Li, Q., Wang, Q., Feng, L."Apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells induced by cordycepin (Review)". Oncology Letters 10, no. 2 (2015): 595-599. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3273