PMC

(A) Cordyceps sinensis; (B) Cordyceps militaris; (C) Cordyceps hawkesii; (D) Metacordyceps taii.

(a) Cordyceps militaris on dead insect; (b) Cordyceps polycephala on dead insect host; (c) Cordyceps spp. on Campanotus; (d) Cordyceps spp. on an unidentified moth; (e) Cordyceps spp. on a micropezid fly; (f) Cordyceps spp. on another micropezid fly.

Cordyceps militaris fraction induces activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and c-Jun in KB cells. (a and b) Effect of Cordyceps militaris fraction on the expression of phosphor mitogen-activated protein kinases and p-c-Jun in KB cells. Cells were treated with 50 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction for indicated hours (a) or with indicated concentrations of Cordyceps militaris fraction for 8 h (b), and cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot analysis. (c) Effect of p-38 inhibitor SB203580 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-regulated expression of p-p38 in KB cells. Cells were treated with 20 μM SB203580 for 1 h prior to exposure to 50 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction for 6 h, and cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot analysis. (d) Effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-regulated expression of p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase in KB cells. Cells were treated with 20 μM SP600125 for 1 h prior to exposure to 50 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction for 6 h, and cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot analysis. (e) Effects of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 and p-38 inhibitor SB203580 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-regulated expression of p-c-Jun in KB cells. Cells were treated with 20 μM SP600125 or 20 μM SB203580 for 1 h prior to exposure to 50 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction for 6 h, and cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot analysis

Cordyceps militaris fraction induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a manner dependent on c-Jun N-terminal kinase/c-Jun signaling pathway. (a) Effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-induced apoptosis in KB cells. Cells were treated with 20 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction alone or in combination with 20 μM SP600125 for 48 h, and then Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining analysis was performed. (b) Effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-induced G2/M arrest in KB cells. Cells were treated with 20 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction alone or in combination with 20 μM SP600125 for 24 h, and then PI staining analysis was performed. (c) Effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-regulated expression of caspase-9 and PARP in KB cells. Cells were cotreated with 20 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction and 20 μM SP600125, and cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot analysis. (d) Effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 on Cordyceps militaris fraction-regulated expression of mitotic cyclin/kinase/phosphatase-related proteins in KB cells. Cells were cotreated with 20 μg/ml of Cordyceps militaris fraction and 20 μM SP600125, and cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot analysis