Resveratrol-induced apoptotic death in human U251 glioma cells Hao Jiang1,4,5, Lijie Zhang1,4, Jarret Kuo1,4, Kelly Kuo1, Subhash C. Gautam2, Laurent Groc1, Alba I. Rodriguez1,4, David Koubi1, Tangella Jackson Hunter1, George B. Corcoran6, Michael D. Seidman3,4 and Robert A. Levine1,4,5,6 1 William T. Gossett Neurology Laboratories, Departments of 2 Surgery and 3 Otolaryngology Research, and4 Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, Henry Ford Health System; 5 John D. Dingell VA Medical Center; and 6 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan Requests for reprints: Robert A. Levine, William T. Gossett Neurology Laboratories, Henry Ford Health System, One Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48202. Phone: 313-874-3771; Fax: 313-874-3770. E-mail: bob-levine@earthlink.net Resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound highly enriched in grapes, peanuts, red wine, and a variety of food sources. Resveratrol has antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, and also has potent anticancer properties. Human glioma U251 cells were used to understand the molecular mechanisms by which resveratrol acts as an anticancer agent, since glioma is a particularly difficult cancer to treat and eradicate. Our data show that resveratrol induces dose- and time-dependent death of U251 cells, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation assays. Resveratrol induces activation of caspase-3 and increases the cleavage of the downstream caspase substrate, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Resveratrol-induced DNA fragmentation can be completely blocked by either a general caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) or a selective caspase-3 inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK), but not by a selective caspase-1 inhibitor. Resveratrol induces cytochrome c release from mitochondria to the cytoplasm and activation of caspase-9. Resveratrol also increases expression of proapoptotic Bax and its translocation to the mitochondria. Resveratrol inhibits U251 proliferation, as measured by MTS assay [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt], and induces G0/G1 growth arrest, as determined by flow cytometry. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, olomoucine, prevents cell cycle progression and resveratrol-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that multiple signaling pathways may underlie the apoptotic death of U251 glioma induced by resveratrol, which warrants further exploration as an anticancer agent in human glioma. This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jiang, H. Articles by Levine, R. A. Mol Cancer Ther. 2005;4:554-561 Ann's NOTE: You can find more information on resveratrol by going to the Studies section (left side of any page), then Nutrition area or SEARCH on our site. DenverNaturopathic.com, April 2005 Berberine Sensitized Human Glioma Cells to RTx Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.