%0 Journal Article
%T Palmitic Acid and Ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol Contribute to the Apoptotic Effect and Cell Cycle Arrest of an Extract from Marthasterias glacialis L. in Neuroblastoma Cells
%A David M. Pereira
%A Georgina Correia-da-Silva
%A Patr¨ªcia Valent£¿o
%A Nat¨¦rcia Teixeira
%A Paula B. Andrade
%J Marine Drugs
%D 2014
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/md12010054
%X We describe the effect of a chemically characterized lipophilic extract obtained from Marthasterias glacialis L. against human breast cancer (MCF-7) and human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lines. Evaluation of DNA synthesis revealed that both cell lines were markedly affected in a concentration-dependent way, the SH-SY5Y cell line being more susceptible. Cell cycle arrest was observed, an effect induced by the sterol, ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol, present in the extract. Morphological evaluation of treated cells showed the advent of lipid droplets and chromatin condensation compatible with apoptosis, which was confirmed by the evaluation of caspase-3 and -9 activities. Palmitic acid was the main compound responsible for this apoptotic effect by a ceramide-independent mechanism that involved endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress with upregulation of CCAAT/-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP).
%K Marthasterias glacialis L.
%K palmitic acid
%K ER-stress
%K CHOP
%K apoptosis
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/12/1/54