OBJECTIVES: Alteronol is a novel compound purified from fermentation products of a microorganism in the bark of the yew tree. The study was designed to evaluate the anticancer effects of alteronol. METHODS: Human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa was cultured in vitro. The cell viability was evaluated by using sulforhodamine B assay. The cell cycle distribution was analysed by flow cytometry. The level of cyclin D1 protein was evaluated using Western blot analysis. The changes in cyclinD1, CDK4 and p21 were detected by ELISA assay and the changes in G1-related regulators were detected by RT-PCR assay. KEY FINDINGS: Our data showed that alteronol inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells and induced G1 phase arrest. Downregulation of the mRNA levels of CDK2, CDK4 and cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21 in alteronol-treated cells were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of the mRNA levels of CDK2, CDK4 and cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21 might be a possible mechanism for the inhibition of proliferation induced by alteronol in HeLa cells.
OBJECTIVES:Alteronol is a novel compound purified from fermentation products of a microorganism in the bark of the yew tree. The study was designed to evaluate the anticancer effects of alteronol. METHODS:Human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa was cultured in vitro. The cell viability was evaluated by using sulforhodamine B assay. The cell cycle distribution was analysed by flow cytometry. The level of cyclin D1 protein was evaluated using Western blot analysis. The changes in cyclinD1, CDK4 and p21 were detected by ELISA assay and the changes in G1-related regulators were detected by RT-PCR assay. KEY FINDINGS: Our data showed that alteronol inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells and induced G1 phase arrest. Downregulation of the mRNA levels of CDK2, CDK4 and cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21 in alteronol-treated cells were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of the mRNA levels of CDK2, CDK4 and cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21 might be a possible mechanism for the inhibition of proliferation induced by alteronol in HeLa cells.