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THE EFFECTS OF Cordyceps Sinensis ON APOPTOSIS IN MA-10 MOUSE LEYDIG TUMOR CELLS.
Huang, Yuan-Li1, Huang, Li-Min1, Wang, Yang-Kao2, Wu, Ching-Shyi1, Huang, Bu-Miin1, 1 2
ABSTRACT- Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is an Ascomycetes fungus parasitic to Lepidoptera larvae, and has been traditionally used as nutritious food in Chinese society. It is illustrated that CS can modulate immune response and inhibit tumor growth. The molecular mechanism by which CS elicits its effect remains uncertain. In the present study, we determined the effect of CS on cell death in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Various concentrations of crude CS were added to MA-10 cells without or with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at different time scales. DNA fragmentation was used to determine the effects of CS on MA-10 cell apoptosis, and Western blot was used to examine the apoptotic pathway. Results showed that CS could induce MA-10 cell apoptosis with dose- and time-dependent relationships. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of caspase-3 protein obviously increased by CS without or with hCG treatment for 3 hour incubation. In the presence of caspase-3 inhibitor, however, apoptosis was significantly suppressed, which provided further evidence for the involvement of caspase-3 in CS-induced MA-10 cell apoptotic death. In summary, CS could induce MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cell apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3 enzyme.
KEY WORDS: apoptosis, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), caspase-3, Leydig cell