Honokiol modulates Bax/Bcl-2 and Bax/Bcl-xL ratio in human pancreatic cancer cells.

<p>(A) MiaPaCa and Panc1 cells were treated with either honokiol (20, 40 or 60 µM) or DMSO (control) for 24 h. Immunoblotting was performed for Bcl-xl, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins followed by densitometry of immunoreactive bands. Normalized densitometric values are indicated at the top of the bands. (B) Bar diagram summarizing the effects of honokiol treatment on Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (upper panel) and Bax/Bcl-xL ratio (lower panel). Data suggest that honokiol induces apoptosis by upregulating pro-apoptotic Bax and downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins.