Cytoskeleton Disorganization during Apoptosis Induced by Curcumin in A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Abstract

Several studies have shown that curcumin can induce apoptosis and inhibit growth in human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. However, the mechanism is not completely understood yet. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of curcumin on cell viability, apoptosis and disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in A549 cells. Our results showed that curcumin significantly inhibited the viability of A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner by induced apoptosis. The apoptotic process was associated with a disorganization of the architecture of actin microfilaments and a decrease in the levels of F-actin. DMSO-treated control cells exhibited a well-defined F-actin network that was mainly organized into stress fibers. The actin fibers in cells treated with curcumin or the positive control drug cytochalasin B were disorganized, disassembled, or disrupted, however, the disorganization of actin fibers and apoptosis could be prevented by phalloidin, an F-actin stabilizing compound. Thus, these results demonstrated that actin filament disorganization might play a central role in the curcumin-induced apoptosis of A549 cells.

Momordica charantia (Indian and Chinese Bitter Melon) Extracts Inducing Apoptosis in Human Lung Cancer Cell Line A549 via ROS-Mediated Mitochodria Injury

“…Cancer therapies are usually based on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, some of the patients are not fully cured [12, 13]. Therefore, natural products are a better alternative for the treatment of cancer without any serious side effects.…”

Amoebicidal activity of curcumin on Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites

“…It is well‐known that CUR interacts and modulates the activity of more than 30 different proteins, which includes cytoskeleton structures, and genes regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis . Studies in mammal cells have shown that CUR induces apoptosis in cancer cells and involves disorganization of the cytoskeleton structure . Even though the molecular mechanism of CUR action on E. histolytica is unknown, our evidences have surprisingly exposed an apparently apoptotic (antiamoebic) effect of this phytochemical.…”

“…Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy assays revealed that treated trophozoites exhibited dramatic morphological changes on size, membrane and cytoplasm; a complete loss of cellular integrity was observed, and remaining cells present a rounded form with loss of cellular motility (Figure ). It is well‐known that CUR interacts and modulates the activity of more than 30 different proteins, which includes cytoskeleton structures, and genes regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis . Studies in mammal cells have shown that CUR induces apoptosis in cancer cells and involves disorganization of the cytoskeleton structure .…”

The apoptotic pathways in the curcumin analog MHMD-induced lung cancer cell death and the essential role of actin polymerization during apoptosis

“…Many reports have demonstrated that actin cytoskeleton is closely related to cell migration, as well as modulates apoptosis [20,45]. It is suggested that actin filaments disorganization induced by curcumin is significant to A549 cells apoptosis [31]. F-actin showed a thick peripheral ring or punctuate pattern in the curcumin-treated cells cytoplasm, which could be blocked by phalloidin treatment.…”

“…Curcumin, a natural product isolated from curcuma, induces apoptosis in various cell lines such as lung cancer NCI-H460 and A549 cells, human prostate DU145 and LNCap cells and hepatocelluar HepG2 cells through multiple apoptotic pathways [27][28][29][30]. Besides, during apoptosis, curcumin disrupts actin cytoskeleton in A549 cells [31]. Clinical trails of curcumin have been made but pharmacokinetic studies found the low bioavailability of curcumin by oral uptake [32].…”