esculetin and Carcinoma--Squamous-Cell

Esculetin, a coumarin compound, has anti-proliferative effects on various types of human cancer cells, but its effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unknown. In this study, we determined whether esculetin had anti-proliferative effects on two oral squamous cell lines, HN22, and HSC2. We found that esculetin inhibited cell viability by inducing apoptosis, as evinced by apoptotic cell morphologies, nuclear fragmentation, and the multi-caspase/MMP activity. Furthermore, proteomic analysis was used to identify the target-specific proteins involved in esculetin treatment. Intriguingly, apoptotic cell death by esculetin was associated with significant inhibition of the EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. We also demonstrated that the expression of nucleophosmin (NPM) markedly decreased after esculetin treatment, and relocalization of NPM from the nucleous to the cytoplasm, together with p65, potentiated apoptotic stimulation. Additionally, our data indicated that NPM expression was markedly higher in OSCC tissues than in normal tissues. Our results collectively indicated that esculetin inhibited the proliferation of OSCC through EGFR-mediated signaling pathways and down-regulation of NPM as well as the perturbation of NPM trafficking from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm resulted in apoptosis.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms; Nuclear Proteins; Nucleophosmin; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Protein Transport; Proteomics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction; Umbelliferones

Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin), a coumarin compound, is known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several types of human cancer cells and is regarded as a promising chemotherapeutic agent. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of esculetin on two oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines, HN22 and HSC4, through regulation of specificity protein 1 (Sp1). We examined the apoptotic effects of esculetin were measured by MTS assay, DAPI staining, Annexin V, PI staining, RT-PCR, western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry in HN22 and HSC4 cells. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that esculetin had anti-proliferative effect on the growth of OSCC cells (HN22 and HSC4) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The treatment of HN22 and HSC4 cells with esculetin led to a significant reduction in growth and induced apoptosis, followed by the regulation of Sp1 and Sp1 regulatory protein. This indicates that esculetin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by suppressing Sp1 in HN22 and HSC4 cells, suggesting it to be a potent anticancer drug candidate for oral cancer.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Survival; Chemoprevention; Down-Regulation; G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Mouth Neoplasms; Sp1 Transcription Factor; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Umbelliferones

The influence of inhibitors of different lipoxygenases (LOX) on the growth of human tumor cells with different profiles of synthesized eicosanoids was studied. The studied LOX inhibitors had virtually no influence on the growth of A549 cells actively synthesizing cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA). The inhibitor of 12-LOX, baicalein, significantly inhibited proliferation in cultures of A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells with a characteristic domination of the major lipoxygenase metabolite of AA, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), in the profile of synthesized eicosanoids and reduced to 70% the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. Treatment of these cultures with 12-HETE virtually restored the growth potential of the tumor cells. The findings suggest that the lipoxygenase metabolite of AA, 12-HETE, is a growth-limiting factor for tumor cells of definite type.

Topics: 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; Adenocarcinoma; Arachidonate Lipoxygenases; Arachidonic Acid; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Proliferation; Flavanones; Humans; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Lung Neoplasms; Nitrobenzenes; Salicylamides; Sulfonamides; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Umbelliferones