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Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression and restoration of gap junction intercellular communication in H-ras-transformed rat liver epithelial cells by caffeic acid phenethyl ester
Cited 32 time in
Web of Science
Cited 35 time in Scopus
- Authors
- Issue Date
- 2004
- Publisher
- New York Academy of Sciences
- Citation
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol.1030, pp.501-507
- Abstract
- One of the most frequent defects in human cancers is the uncontrolled activation of the ras signaling pathways. Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) have been frequently observed in several forms of human malignancies. The present study investigated the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a chemopreventive phytochemical derived from honey propolis, on COX-2 expression and GJIC in Harvey-ras-transformed WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells (H-ras WB cells). H-ras induced COX-2 expression in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells (WB cells). H-ras WB cells also exhibited complete inhibition of GJIC and predominant unphosphorylation of connexin 43 (Cx43), a major protein modulating GJIC. CAPE significantly inhibited the constitutive expression of COX-2 and restored the disrupted GJIC through the phosphorylation of Cx43 at a concentration of 12.5 mu M in H-ras WB cells. Although the molecular basis for the cancer chemopreventive activity of CAPE is not completely understood, several studies suggest that CAPE is a potent and specific inhibitor of the transcription factor nuclear factor B-K (NF-B-K) activation. We also found that CAPE significantly inhibited H-ras-induced NF-B-K DNA-binding activity without affecting the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which are major intracellular molecules involved in the Ras signaling pathways. In conclusion, CAPE may exert cancer chemopreventive effects through the inhibition of COX-2 expression and the restoration of disrupted GJIC induced by H-ras, possibly by targeting NF-B-K.
- ISSN
- 0077-8923
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