The Effect Of Ganoderic Acid Dm On Inducing Cell Death In Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Ganoderic Acid DM, GA-DM, is a triterpenoid that has been collected from a mushroom originating in Eastern Asia called Ganoderma lucidum. GA-DM has been effective in inducing cell death through the processes of autophagy and apoptosis in melanoma. The goal of this project was to determine whether GA-DM induces cell death in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, DLBCL, via the apoptotic pathway. The project used the human DB cell line. Apoptosis was achieved by treating these cells with 15-25 microliters concentration of GA-DM and followed by MTS Cell Proliferation Assay, Western Blot analysis of apoptosis proteins, and p53 densitometric analysis. The results indicated that when GA-DM is added to DLBCL, cell death is induced. Analysis of Caspase 3 indicated cleavage of the protein suggesting apoptosis. The Caspase 3 western blot analysis indicated that it is being cleaved which suggests that apoptosis is occurring since Caspase 3 assists in the completion of apoptosis. The p53 western blot analysis and densitometric analysis indicate that it is being up regulated, which suggests that p53 is acting as a tumor suppressor, and finally the MET western blot analysis indicated that MET is being down regulated, which suggests that GA-DM is capable of inhibiting invasive cell growth. Future directions for this project are to investigate other apoptosis inducing molecules in the pathway and to test autophagy