Cordycepin induces apoptosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Hut78 cells via mitochondrial pathway

Objective\r\nCordycepin is the active component of Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris, belongs to Traditional Chinese Medicine, and has a significant anti-cancer activity. This research aimed to study the roles of cordycepin in inducing apoptosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Hut78 cell line.\r\n\r\n\r\nMethods\r\nAfter treatment with 5 µg/ml cordycepin for 24 hours, the proliferation and apoptosis of Hut78 cells induced by cordycepin were analyzed via MTT and flow cytometry assay, respectively. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to investigate the levels of apoptosis-related proteins.\r\n\r\n\r\nResults\r\nProliferation and apoptosis of Hut78 cells were inhibited by cordycepin in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins including caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3, tBid, Bax, Apaf1, AIF and DR3 receptor were all decreased in the cells stimulated with 5 µg/ml cordycepin for 24 hours compared with those in the control group.\r\n\r\n\r\nConclusion\r\nCell proliferation and induced apoptosis could be inhibited by cordycepin via the DR3/mitochondrial signaling pathway.\r\n\r\n\r\nKey words: \r\nCordycepin; Hut78 cell line; Apoptosis; Proliferation