The Molecular Mechanisms of Tanshinone IIA on the Apoptosis and Arrest of Human Esophageal Carcinoma Cells

Figure 7

Model of the molecular mechanisms of TanIIA induced apoptosis and arrested cell cycle. TanIIA inhibits Akt and its phosphorylation, and this in turn increases the expression of Bax/Bcl ratio level, through mitochondrial damage to induce the activity of caspase-9. Caspase-3 is activated by this complex and results in apoptosis. Meanwhile, TanIIA activates p53, and this in turn increases the expression of p21. p21 interacts with some DNA polymerase accessory factors to decrease the expression of CDC2 and inhibit its phosphorylation, resulting in preventing CDC2/cyclin B1 complex formation.