RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of Bufalin on the Proliferation of Human Choriocarcinoma Cells
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 1105
OP 1109
DO 10.1097/IGC.0b013e318218730e
VO 21
IS 6
A1 Noriyuki Takai
A1 Tami Ueda
A1 Terukazu Ishii
A1 Naoko Kira
A1 Masakazu Nishida
A1 Yoshihiro Nishida
A1 Kaei Nasu
A1 Hisashi Narahara
YR 2011
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/21/6/1105.abstract
AB Objective: Bufalin is a traditional Chinese medicine, and it induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells.Methods: We investigated the effect of bufalin in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of bufalin, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined.Results: An 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that BeWo cells were sensitive to the growth inhibitory effect of bufalin. Cell cycle analysis indicated that exposure to bufalin decreased the proportion of cells in the synthesis phase and increased the proportion in the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by annexin V staining of externalized phosphatidylserine and by the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. This induction occurred in conjunction with the altered expression of genes related to cell growth, malignant phenotype, and apoptosis.Conclusions: These results suggest that bufalin may serve as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of choriocarcinoma.