Naringenin derivative diethyl (5,4′-dihydroxy flavanone-7-yl) phosphate inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells

Anti-cancer effects of naringenin derivative diethyl (5,4′-dihydroxy flavanone-7-yl) phosphate were evaluated in human lung cancer cells. The effect of diethyl (5,4′-dihydroxy flavanone-7-yl) phosphate (dEdHF-7-p) on A549 cell viability was measured using MTS assay and cell counting. Morphological changes were detected using phase-contrast microscopy. Apoptosis was analyzed using Hoechst staining. The influence of dEdHF-7-p on cell cycle distribution was determined using propidium iodide (PI) staining, and protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. A newly synthesized naringenin derivative dEdHF-7-p suppressed cell growth of A549 though mechanisms including inhibition of cell cycle and increased apoptosis. Apoptotic and cell cycle modulators were changed by dEdHF-7-p in A549 cells; cyclins, ppRB, and antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2 were down-regulated, whereas apoptotic factor Bax and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p53 were enhanced, thereby releasing cytochrome c into the cytosol of dEdHF-7-p -treated-A549 cells. dEdHF-7-p treatment processed caspases-3/-8/-9 and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase. The dEdHF-7-p treatment enhanced Fas expression and decreased expression of cell survival factors such as PI3K and p-Akt in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, dEdHF-7-p induces apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt survival signaling pathway and modulating mitochondria-emanated intrinsic and Fas extrinsic pathways in A549 cells.