Dual effects of ouabain, digoxin and proscillaridin A on the regulation of apoptosis in human fibroblasts.

In this study, we looked at the effect of ouabain, digoxin and proscillaridin A on human fibroblasts. These data show that low concentrations of ouabain, digoxin and proscillaridin A can activate proliferation of human fibroblasts, suggesting that the Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase complex may act as a transducing receptor. It was shown that 30 nM ouabain, digoxin and proscillaridin A stimulated an antiapoptotic action by the increase in the level of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (P-ERK 1/2). Ouabain, digoxin and proscillaridin A only at the relatively high concentration of 300 nM increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration, activated caspase-3 and induced apoptosis in human fibroblasts. In terms of reduction in cell viability, antiproliferative and apoptotic activity, these cardiac glycosides rank in the order proscillaridin A >digoxin >ouabain.