Activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in usnic acid-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells.

Abstract

Many usnic acid-containing dietary supplements have been marketed as weight loss agents, although severe hepatotoxicity and acute liver failure have been associated with their overuse. Our previous mechanistic studies revealed that autophagy, disturbance of calcium homeostasis, and ER stress are involved in usnic acid-induced toxicity. In this study, we investigated the role of oxidative stress and the Nrf2 signaling pathway in usnic acid-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells. We found that a 24-h treatment with usnic acid caused DNA damage and S-phase cell cycle arrest in a concentration-dependent manner. Usnic acid also triggered oxidative stress as demonstrated by increased reactive oxygen species generation and glutathione depletion. Short-term treatment (6 h) with usnic acid significantly increased the protein level for Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), promoted Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus, up-regulated antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase reporter activity, and induced the expression of Nrf2-regulated targets, including glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1). Furthermore, knockdown of Nrf2 with shRNA potentiated usnic acid-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Taken together, our results show that usnic acid causes cell cycle dysregulation, DNA damage, and oxidative stress and that the Nrf2 signaling pathway is activated in usnic acid-induced cytotoxicity.

• Authors: Si Chen, Zhuhong Zhang, Tao Qing, Zhen Ren, Dianke Yu, Letha Couch, Baitang Ning, Nan Mei, Leming Shi, William H Tolleson, Lei Guo
• Journal: Archives of toxicology (Arch Toxicol) Vol. 91 Issue 3 Pg. 1293-1307 (Mar 2017) ISSN: 1432-0738 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 27369375 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Benzofurans
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• NFE2L2 protein, human
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• usnic acid
• Glutathione

Topics

• Antioxidant Response Elements (drug effects)
• Benzofurans (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• DNA Damage (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Hep G2 Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Humans
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (metabolism)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• S Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints (drug effects)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)