Ursolic acid triggers nonprogrammed death (necrosis) in human glioblastoma multiforme DBTRG-05MG cells through MPT pore opening and ATP decline.

Scope: Ursolic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenic acid, possesses anticancer potential and diverse biological effects, but its correlation with glioblastoma multiforme cells and different modes of cell death is unclear. We studied the cellular actions of human glioblastoma multiforme DBTRG-05MG cells after ursolic acid treatment and explored cell-selective killing effect of necrotic death as a cell fate.

Methods And Results: Ursolic acid effectively reversed temozolomide resistance and reduced DBTRG-05MG cell viability.