Anti‑cancer effect of ursolic acid activates apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin‑1 in prostate cancer

  • Authors:
    • Wen‑Tao Gai
    • Da‑Peng Yu
    • Xin‑Sheng Wang
    • Pei‑Tao Wang
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  • Published online on: August 16, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5015
  • Pages: 2880-2885
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Abstract

Ursolic acid is a type of pentacyclic triterpene compound with multiple pharmacological activities including cancer resistance, protection from liver injury, antisepsis, anti‑inflammation and antiviral activity. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effect of ursolic acid. Ursolic acid activates cell apoptosis and its pro‑apoptotic mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Cell Counting kit‑8 assays, flow cytometric analysis and analysis of caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 activity were used to estimate the anticancer effect of ursolic acid on DU145 prostate cancer cells. The protein expression of cytochrome c, rho‑associated protein kinase (ROCK), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and cofilin‑1 were examined using western blot analysis. In the present study, ursolic acid significantly suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis, as well as increasing caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 activities of DU145 cells. Furthermore, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial cytochrome c protein expression was significantly activated and suppressed, respectively, by ursolic acid. Ursolic acid significantly suppressed the ROCK/PTEN signaling pathway and inhibited cofilin‑1 protein expression in DU145 cells. The results of the present study indicate that the anticancer effect of ursolic acid activates cell apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin‑1 in prostate cancer.
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October-2016
Volume 12 Issue 4

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Gai WT, Yu DP, Wang XS and Wang PT: Anti‑cancer effect of ursolic acid activates apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin‑1 in prostate cancer. Oncol Lett 12: 2880-2885, 2016.
APA
Gai, W., Yu, D., Wang, X., & Wang, P. (2016). Anti‑cancer effect of ursolic acid activates apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin‑1 in prostate cancer. Oncology Letters, 12, 2880-2885. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5015
MLA
Gai, W., Yu, D., Wang, X., Wang, P."Anti‑cancer effect of ursolic acid activates apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin‑1 in prostate cancer". Oncology Letters 12.4 (2016): 2880-2885.
Chicago
Gai, W., Yu, D., Wang, X., Wang, P."Anti‑cancer effect of ursolic acid activates apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin‑1 in prostate cancer". Oncology Letters 12, no. 4 (2016): 2880-2885. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5015