Agaricus blazei Murill enhances doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by NFκB-mediated increase of intracellular doxorubicin accumulation

• Published in: International journal of oncology Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 401 - 408
• Main Authors: Lee, Jong Seok, Hong, Eock Kee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Editorial Academy of the International Journal of Oncology 01-02-2011
• Subjects: Agaricus - chemistry; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Proliferation; Doxorubicin - pharmacology; Drug Synergism; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Subcellular Fractions; Tumors; Antineoplastic agent; Hepatic disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Doxorubicin; Basidiomycota; Agaricus blazei; Fungi; Liver cancer; Isomerases; Cancerology; Transcription factor NFκB; Human; DNA topoisomerase (ATP-hydrolysing); Agaricus; NFκB; Enzyme; Enzyme inhibitor; Topoisomerase II inhibitor; Malignant tumor; Cell death; Digestive diseases; Anthracyclins; Intracellular; Cancer; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 1019-6439; 1791-2423
• DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2010.852

It has been demonstrated that the Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) mushroom, which primarily consists of polysaccharides, possesses anti-tumor activities. However, the mechanisms by which ABM inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma growth remain unknown. Our study demonstrates that ABM acts as an enhancer to sensitize doxorubicin (Dox)-mediated apoptotic signaling, and this sensitization can be achieved by enhancing intracellular Dox accumulation via the inhibition of NFκB activity. These findings suggest that ABM, when combined with low doses of Dox, has the potential to provide more efficient therapeutic effects against drug-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma.