Zhi Hong Zhang1, Ming Yue Li1, Zhe Wang1, Hong Xiang Zuo1, Jing Ying Wang1, Yue Xing1, Chenghua Jin1, Guanghua Xu1, Lianxun Piao1, Hongxin Piao2, Juan Ma3, Xuejun Jin4. 1. Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Molecular Medicine Research Center, Ministry of education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China. 2. Yanbian University Affiliated Hospital/Liver Diseases Branch, China. Electronic address: piaohx@ybu.edu.cn. 3. Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Molecular Medicine Research Center, Ministry of education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China. Electronic address: majuan@ybu.edu.cn. 4. Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Molecular Medicine Research Center, Ministry of education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China. Electronic address: xjjin@ybu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aberrant activation of STAT3 is frequently encountered and promotes survival, cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis in tumor cell. Convallatoxin, triterpenoid ingredient, exhibits anticancer pharmacological properties. PURPOSE: In this work, we investigated the anticancer potential of convallatoxin and explored whether convallatoxin mediates its effect through interference with the STAT3 activation in colorectal cancer cells. METHODS: In vitro, the underlying mechanisms of convallatoxin at inhibiting STAT3 activation were investigated by homology modeling and molecular docking, luciferase reporter assay, MTT assay, RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. Changes in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and angiogenesis were analyzed by EdU labeling assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, wound-healing assay, matrigel transwell invasion assay and tube formation assays. And in vivo, antitumor activity of convallatoxin was assessed in a murine xenograft model of HCT116 cells. RESULTS: Convallatoxin decreased the viability of colorectal cancer lines. Moreover, convallatoxin reduced the P-STAT3 (T705) via the JAK1, JAK2, and Src pathways and inhibited serine-727 phosphorylation of STAT3 via the PI3K-AKT-mTOR-STAT3 pathways in colorectal cancer cells. Interestingly, we discovered the crosstalk between mTOR and JAK2 in mTOR/STAT3 and JAK/STAT3 pathways, which collaboratively regulated STAT3 activation and convallatoxin play a role in it. Convallatoxin also downregulated the expression of target genes involved cell survival (e.g., Survivin, Bcl-xl, Bcl-2), proliferation (e.g., Cyclin D1), metastasis (e.g., MMP-9), and angiogenesis (e.g., VEGF). Indeed, we found that convallatoxin inhibited tube formation, migration, and invasion of endothelial cells, and inhibited the proliferation. Finally, in vivo observations were confirmed by showing antitumor activity of convallatoxin in a murine xenograft model. CONCLUSION: The result of the current study show that convallatoxin promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and angiogenesis through crosstalk between JAK2/STAT3 (T705) and mTOR/STAT3 (S727) signaling pathways in colorectal cancer cells and indicate that convallatoxin could be a valuable candidate for the development of colorectal cancer therapeutic.
BACKGROUND: Aberrant activation of STAT3 is frequently encountered and promotes survival, cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis in tumor cell. Convallatoxin, triterpenoid ingredient, exhibits anticancer pharmacological properties. PURPOSE: In this work, we investigated the anticancer potential of convallatoxin and explored whether convallatoxin mediates its effect through interference with the STAT3 activation in colorectal cancer cells. METHODS: In vitro, the underlying mechanisms of convallatoxin at inhibiting STAT3 activation were investigated by homology modeling and molecular docking, luciferase reporter assay, MTT assay, RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. Changes in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and angiogenesis were analyzed by EdU labeling assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, wound-healing assay, matrigel transwell invasion assay and tube formation assays. And in vivo, antitumor activity of convallatoxin was assessed in a murine xenograft model of HCT116 cells. RESULTS:Convallatoxin decreased the viability of colorectal cancer lines. Moreover, convallatoxin reduced the P-STAT3 (T705) via the JAK1, JAK2, and Src pathways and inhibited serine-727 phosphorylation of STAT3 via the PI3K-AKT-mTOR-STAT3 pathways in colorectal cancer cells. Interestingly, we discovered the crosstalk between mTOR and JAK2 in mTOR/STAT3 and JAK/STAT3 pathways, which collaboratively regulated STAT3 activation and convallatoxin play a role in it. Convallatoxin also downregulated the expression of target genes involved cell survival (e.g., Survivin, Bcl-xl, Bcl-2), proliferation (e.g., Cyclin D1), metastasis (e.g., MMP-9), and angiogenesis (e.g., VEGF). Indeed, we found that convallatoxin inhibited tube formation, migration, and invasion of endothelial cells, and inhibited the proliferation. Finally, in vivo observations were confirmed by showing antitumor activity of convallatoxin in a murine xenograft model. CONCLUSION: The result of the current study show that convallatoxin promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and angiogenesis through crosstalk between JAK2/STAT3 (T705) and mTOR/STAT3 (S727) signaling pathways in colorectal cancer cells and indicate that convallatoxin could be a valuable candidate for the development of colorectal cancer therapeutic.
Authors: Yi Zhang; Xiujin Shi; Jialun Han; Wenxing Peng; Zhenwei Fang; Yang Zhou; Xiaoyu Xu; Jie Lin; Fucheng Xiao; Limin Zhao; Yang Lin Journal: Drug Des Devel Ther Date: 2021-02-23 Impact factor: 4.162
Authors: Mohamed El-Sherbiny; Rehab M El-Sayed; Mohamed A Helal; Afaf T Ibrahiem; Hoda S Elmahdi; Mohamed Ahmed Eladl; Shymaa E Bilay; Asma M Alshahrani; Mona K Tawfik; Ziad E Hamed; Amany O Mohamed; Sawsan A Zaitone Journal: Molecules Date: 2021-11-13 Impact factor: 4.411