Apoptosis Induced by Artesunate in Human Adenocarcinoma Cell Line A549 Cells Associated with Activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3

Objective To investigate the effects of artesunate on apoptosis of human adenocarcinoma cell line A549 cells and activation of cysteine containing aspartate 9(caspase-9) and cysteine containing aspartate 3(caspase-3). Methods A549 cells were treated with artesunate, cell cycle phase's distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Activation of caspase-9 was identified by colorimetric assay. Change of caspase-3 was detected by western blot. Results With artesunate treatment, marked cell accumulation in G2/M phase was observed after 100 mg/L Art exposure for 24 h. In addition, the percentage of apoptosis increased, from (3.5±0.7)% in control cultures to approximately (19.4±1.5)% after 100 mg/L Art treated for 24 h. caspase-9 colorimetric assay showed basal levels of caspase-9 activity in A549 cells, and after Art treatment, caspase-9 activity increased in a dose-dependent manner. After A549 cells treated with 100 mg/L Art for 6 h, 12 h and 24 h, the activity of caspase-3 increased with fold of 1.2, 1.6(P0.01) and 1.8 (P0.01), respectively. Conclusion Art is of strong anticancer effect which is associated with activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 specific pathway.