Induction of differentiation in rat C6 glioma cells with Saikosaponins

Abstract

The effects of saikosaponins (a, b(1), b(2), c, d), isolated from Bupleurum Radix, on the induction of differentiation in rat C6 glioma cells were studied. Saikosaponins a and d were shown to inhibit cell proliferation and alter cell morphology. In addition to cytostasis, the enzymatic activities of glutamine synthetase (GS) and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) were also noticeably increased after treatment with saikosaponin a. Nevertheless, saikosaponin d only showed an increase of GS activity, no significant changes in CNP activity were found. These results suggest that saikosaponin a can induce the differentiation of C6 glioma cells into astrocytes and/or oligodendrocytes, but saikosaponin d can only induce the differentiation of C6 glioma cells into astrocytes.

Effects of Bupleurum scorzoneraefolium, Bupleurum falcatum, and saponins on nephrotoxic serum nephritis in mice

“…In endothelial cell culture, unlike saikosaponin, it induces cell growth (Shyu et al, 2004), and in rat glioma cells, it lacks the ability of saikosaponin d to inhibit proliferation and alter morphology (Tsai et al, 2002). Our findings are consistent with those of others as to the effect of saponin d in nephritis, but a further comparison of the two saponins needs to be done.…”

Anti-glioma action of aloe emodin: the role of ERK inhibition

“…This was confirmed by an increased expression of GFAP, a 50-kDa type III intermediate filament protein considered to be a reliable differentiation marker of normal astrocytes and tumors of astrocytic lineage [32]. A recent study reported that C6 glioma cells, under the influence of saikosaponin A, could also acquire an oligodendrocyte phenotype characterized by an increase in oligodendrocyte-specific enzyme 2¢,3¢-cyclic nucleotide 3¢-phosphohydrolase [33]. However, as in our experiments the GFAP increase was accompanied by a concomitant reduction in the reactivity with the oligodendrocyte-specific anti-galactocerebroside antibody O1 [34], AE-exposed C6 cells appear to have been committed to the astrocytic, rather than oligodendrocyte lineage.…”

The antitumor properties of a nontoxic, nitric oxide–modified version of saquinavir are independent of Akt

“…The capacity of C6 and B16 cells to differentiate is well documented. Depending on the stimulus, C6 cells are able to differentiate toward both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes (18,27). B16 cells, which are derived from the same embryonic precursors as C6 cells, differentiate to acquire the characteristics of primary melanocytes when triggered by various stimuli (28)(29)(30).…”