Abstract: Objective To investigate the potential signal molecule of Resveratrol (Res)-induced apoptosis of human skin cancer cell line, A431 cells. Methods A431 cells were divided into 4 groups, including Group A (controls), Group B (treated with Res), Group C (pre-treated by SP600125, Group D (inhibitor control, SP600125 only), respectively. Phase contrast microscope, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to observe morphology and the expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, JNK and P-JNK in A431 cells. Result Apoptosis were often observed after Res treatment in the A431 cells. Meanwhile, the expression of Caspase-3 and rate of Bax/Bcl-2 increased, P-JNK expression increased significantly and aggregated in the nucleus(increased to 289469.2±3729 from 225463±672，P <0.05). Pre-treated with SP600125, the above changes decreased significantly (248198.4±4366.9，P <0.05), and the growth of A431 cells was as the same as controls. Conclusion The phosphorylated JNK entering into the nucleus to regulate the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 were involved in the signal molecule of Res-induced apoptosis in A431 cells.

Key words: Res, A431 cell line, P-JNK, JNK, Caspase-3