6,7-di-O-acetylsinococuline (FK-3000) induces G(2)/M phase arrest in breast carcinomas through p38 MAPK phosphorylation and CDC25B dephosphorylation

We evaluated the cytostatic effect of 6,7-di-O-acetylsinococuline (FK-3000) isolated from Stephania delavayi Diels. against breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. FK-3000 suppressed CDC25B phosphorylation directly and indirectly via p38 MAPK phosphorylation. CDC25B dephosphorylation decreased levels of cyclin B and phospho-CDC-2, and ultimately induced cell cycle arrest at the G(2)/M phase. The p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB 239063 blocked FK-3000-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation, but did not completely rescue cell death. Conclusively FK-3000 exerts its antiproliferative effect through two pathways: i) G(2)/M cell cycle arrest via downregulation of cyclin B and phospho-CDC2 by p38 MAPK phosphorylation and CDC25B dephosphorylation, and ii) p38 MAPK-independent induction of apoptosis.