Dehydrocostus Lactone Enhances Chemotherapeutic Potential of Doxorubicin in Lung Cancer by Inducing Cell Death and Limiting Metastasis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Natural compounds have been utilized in inhibiting metastasis alone or in combination with other anti-tumor agents. Dehydrocostus lactone (DHC), a natural sesquiterpene lactone, was used to investigate its effect on proliferation of lung cancer cells and on the anti-angiogenic efficacy of doxorubicin. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and clonogenic assay. Apoptosis and migration were assessed by flow cytometry and wound-healing assay, respectively. Western blotting and qPCR were performed for gene and protein expression analysis. Matrigel plug assay was performed for angiogenesis assessment. RESULTS Results of the study show that DHC inhibited the survival and proliferation of lung cancer cells (A549 and H460) and enhanced the growth-inhibitory properties of DOX. Cotreatment of DHC enhanced the apoptosis-inducing effects of DOX by activating caspase-9 and caspase-3 followed by cleavage of PARP. Treatment of A549 and H460 cells with DHC caused suppression of HIF-1α, Akt and pAkt, GSK-3β and pGSK-3β, as well as ERK, pERK, mTOR, and p-mTOR. DHC enhanced the effect of DOX by inhibiting migration of A549 cells as observed by wound-healing assay. DHC caused synergistic inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes when treated in combination with DOX. DHC further enhanced the anti-angiogenic properties of DOX in mice implanted with Matrigel plugs. DHC suppressed the proliferation of lung cancer cells and enhanced the anti-angiogenic properties of DOX. CONCLUSIONS The putative mechanism behind the metastasis-limiting effects of DHC may involve the suppression of Akt/GSK-3β and inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in lung cancer cells.

• Authors: Wei Sheng, Hongyan Mao, Chuanxi Wang, Ning Yang, Zhe Zhang, Junqing Han
• Journal: Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research (Med Sci Monit) Vol. 24 Pg. 7850-7861 (Nov 02 2018) ISSN: 1643-3750 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30388099 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Lactones
• Sesquiterpenes
• dehydrocostus lactone
• Doxorubicin

Topics

• A549 Cells
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Doxorubicin (pharmacology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lactones (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Neoplasm Metastasis (drug therapy)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic
• Sesquiterpenes (pharmacology, therapeutic use)