PURPOSE:

We investigated the anticancer effect of AE (1,8-dihydroy-3-[hydroxymethyl]-anthraquione) in the T24 human bladder cancer cell line (Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan) by studying apoptosis regulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

AE, which is purified from aloe vera leaves, has been reported to have antitumor activity. Cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometric methods. Levels of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and other enzyme were examined by Western blotting methods.

RESULTS:

AE inhibited cell viability, and induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in T24 cells. AE increased the levels of Wee1 and cdc25c, and may have led to inhibition of the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and cyclin B1, which cause G2/M arrest. AE induced p53 expression and was accompanied by the induction of p21 and caspase-3 activation, which was associated with apoptosis. In addition, AE was associated with a marked increase in Fas/APO1 receptor and Bax expression but it inhibited Bcl-2 expression.

CONCLUSIONS:

AE induced apoptosis in T24 cells is mediated through the activation of p53, p21, Fas/APO-1, Bax and caspase-3.