Effects of 7-hydroxy-3-methoxycadalene on cell cycle, apoptosis and protein translation in A549 lung cancer cells

Abstract

Previously we reported that cadalene extracted from Zelkova serrata inhibited lung tumorigenesis in mice. However, the precise mechanism has not yet investigated. Here, we examined the effects of cadalene on signal pathways important for apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein translation in lung cancer cells. Our results showed that cadalene suppressed the expression of Akt and its phosphor-forms through controlling PI3K and PTEN. Cadalene also induced apoptosis through facilitating proapoptotic protein expression. In addition, cadalene caused cell cycle arrest and decreased mTOR-mediated protein translation. Taken together, cadalene may be developed as a lung cancer therapeutic agent in the future.