Anthocyanin Induces Apoptosis of DU-145 CellsIn Vitroand Inhibits Xenograft Growth of Prostate Cancer

• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.1.16
• Publication Date: 2014-12-15T08:33:25Z
• Authors: U-Syn Ha; Woong Jin Bae; Su Jin Kim; Byung Il Yoon; Sung Hoo Hong; Ji Youl Lee; Tae-Kon Hwang; Sung Yeoun Hwang; Zhiping Wang; Sae Woong Kim
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Cell Survival; Mice, Nude; Prostatic Neoplasms; Apoptosis; Prostate-Specific Antigen; NAD; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; 3. Good health; Anthocyanins; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Mice, Inbred C57BL; 03 medical and health sciences; Receptors, Androgen; Cell Line, Tumor; Animals; Humans; Original Article; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Cell Proliferation; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

To investigate the effects of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean, which have antioxidant activity, on apoptosis in vitro (in hormone refractory prostate cancer cells) and on tumor growth in vivo (in athymic nude mouse xenograft model).The growth and viability of DU-145 cells treated with anthocyanins were assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and apoptosis was assessed by DNA laddering. Immunoblotting was conducted to evaluate differences in the expressions of p53, Bax, Bcl, androgen receptor (AR), and prostate specific antigen (PSA). To study the inhibitory effects of anthocyanins on tumor growth in vivo, DU-145 tumor xenografts were established in athymic nude mice. The anthocyanin group was treated with daily oral anthocyanin (8 mg/kg) for 14 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, DU-145 cells (2×10⁶) were inoculated subcutaneously into the right flank to establish tumor xenografts. Tumor dimensions were measured twice a week using calipers and volumes were calculated.Anthocyanin treatment of DU-145 cells resulted in 1) significant increase in apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, 2) significant decrease in p53 and Bcl-2 expressions (with increased Bax expression), and 3) significant decrease in PSA and AR expressions. In the xenograft model, anthocyanin treatment significantly inhibit tumor growth.This study suggests that anthocyanins from black soybean inhibit the progression of prostate cancer in vitro and in a xenograft model.