20 (S)-ginsenoside-Rh2 induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by activating NF-κB signaling pathway

Inducing apoptosis of tumor cell is one of the main therapeutic measures on tumor. 20 (S)-Ginsenoside-Rh2 (Rh2) is a kind of antineoplastic agents developed from plants. In this study, the effect of Rh2 on apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms were investigated in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, using the methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay to detect cell survival, Hoechst33258 staining to observe morphological changes during apoptosis through inverted fluorescence microscope, dual luciferase reporter system to detect NF-(e) over capB-Luc relative luciferase activity, immunofluorescence assay to test phosphorylation expression level and nuclear translocation of transcription factor NF-alpha B p65, RT-PCR to analyse TNF-alpha, mRNA expression level. The results showed that Rh2 could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in A549 cells. Compared to the control group, relative luciferase activity of NF-kappa B-Luc reportor gene significantly improved in A549 cells treated with Rh2, nuclear NF-kappa B p65 fluorescence luminance increased obviously, and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA remarkably enhanced. Taken together, these results suggest that Rh2 can induce apoptosis of A549 cells by activating NF-(e) over capB signaling pathway and up-regulate the expression of TNF-alpha.