6-Dehydrogingerdione

6-Dehydrogingerdione sensitizes human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis via a reactive oxygen species-mediated mechanism that enhances DR5 expression, up-regulates Ser-15 phosphorylation, and triggers nuclear translocation of p53. Abrogation of p53 using small interfering RNA markedly reduces 6-Dehydrogingerdione-induced DR5 and diminishes TRAIL responsiveness. ROS generation accompanies DR5 activation, and pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine significantly attenuates these apoptotic responses, confirming 6-Dehydrogingerdione acts through p53-dependent and oxidative stress-mediated apoptotic pathways.