Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol.
Betulinic Acid (BetA) and its derivatives have been extensively studied in the past for their anti-tumor effects, but relatively little is known about its precursor Betulin (BE). We found that BE induces apoptosis utilizing a similar mechanism as BetA and is prevented by cyclosporin A (CsA). BE indu...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2009-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2671171?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1828520579885432832 |
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| author | Franziska B Mullauer Jan H Kessler Jan Paul Medema |
| author_facet | Franziska B Mullauer Jan H Kessler Jan Paul Medema |
| author_sort | Franziska B Mullauer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Betulinic Acid (BetA) and its derivatives have been extensively studied in the past for their anti-tumor effects, but relatively little is known about its precursor Betulin (BE). We found that BE induces apoptosis utilizing a similar mechanism as BetA and is prevented by cyclosporin A (CsA). BE induces cell death more rapidly as compared to BetA, but to achieve similar amounts of cell death a considerably higher concentration of BE is needed. Interestingly, we observed that cholesterol sensitized cells to BE-induced apoptosis, while there was no effect of cholesterol when combined with BetA. Despite the significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, the mode of cell death was not changed as CsA completely abrogated cell death. These results indicate that BE has potent anti-tumor activity especially in combination with cholesterol. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:32:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ffaed2f660ef45ada4c5615ad1e62d37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:32:17Z |
| publishDate | 2009-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-ffaed2f660ef45ada4c5615ad1e62d372022-12-22T00:53:14ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032009-01-0144e110.1371/journal.pone.0005361Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol.Franziska B MullauerJan H KesslerJan Paul MedemaBetulinic Acid (BetA) and its derivatives have been extensively studied in the past for their anti-tumor effects, but relatively little is known about its precursor Betulin (BE). We found that BE induces apoptosis utilizing a similar mechanism as BetA and is prevented by cyclosporin A (CsA). BE induces cell death more rapidly as compared to BetA, but to achieve similar amounts of cell death a considerably higher concentration of BE is needed. Interestingly, we observed that cholesterol sensitized cells to BE-induced apoptosis, while there was no effect of cholesterol when combined with BetA. Despite the significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, the mode of cell death was not changed as CsA completely abrogated cell death. These results indicate that BE has potent anti-tumor activity especially in combination with cholesterol.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2671171?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Franziska B Mullauer Jan H Kessler Jan Paul Medema Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol. PLoS ONE |
| title | Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol. |
| title_full | Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol. |
| title_fullStr | Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol. |
| title_short | Betulin is a potent anti-tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol. |
| title_sort | betulin is a potent anti tumor agent that is enhanced by cholesterol |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2671171?pdf=render |
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