periplocin and Lung-Neoplasms

Periplocin is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, reinforcement of bones and tendons, palpitations or shortness of breath and lower extremity edema in traditional medicine. Our previous findings suggested that periplocin could inhibit the growth of lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo. But the biological processes and molecular pathways by which periplocin induces these beneficial effects remain largely undefined.. To explore the molecular mechanisms of periplocin involved in anti-cancer activity, in the present study the protein profile changes of human lung cancer cell lines A549 in response to periplocin treatment were investigated using the proteomics approaches (2-DE combined with MS/MS). Western blot was employed to verify the changed proteins. Interactions between changed proteins were analyzed by STRING.. 29 down-regulated protein species named GTP-binding nuclear protein Ran (RAN), Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 1 (ARHGDIA), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A-1 (EIF5A) and Profilin-1(PFN1), and 10 up-regulated protein species named Heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (HSPA8),10 kDa heat shock protein (HSPE1), and Cofilin-1(CFL-1) were identified. Among them, GTP-binding nuclear protein Ran (RAN) and Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 1 (ARHGDIA) were the most significantly changed (over tenfold). The proteasome subunit beta type-6 (PSMB6), ATP synthase ecto-α-subunit (ATP5A1), Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and EIF5A were verified by immunoblot assays to be dramatically down-regulated. By STRING bioinformatics analysis revealing interactions and signaling networks it became apparent that the proteins changed they are primarily involved in transcription and proteolysis.. Periplocin inhibited growth of lung cancer by down-regulating proteins, such as ATP5A1, EIF5A, ALDH1 and PSMB6. These findings may improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of periplocin on lung cancer cells.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasm Proteins; Proteome; Proteomics; Saponins

Periplocin is one of cardenolides isolated from cortex periplocae which is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and reinforcement of bones and tendons in traditional medicine. Here, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of periplocin against lung cancer cells bothin vitro and in vivo, and explored its anti-cancer mechanism. Periplocin inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells and induced their apoptosis in time- and dose-dependent manners by cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Periplocin exhibited anti-tumor activity both in human (A549) and mouse (LL/2) lung cancer xenograft models. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that intratumoral angiogenesis was significantly suppressed. Furthermore, anti-cancer activity mediated by periplocin was associated with decreased level of phosphorylated AKT and ERK both in vitro and in vivo, which were important for cell growth and survival. Moreover, periplocin induced apoptosis by downregulating Bcl-2 and upregulating Bax, leading to activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. These findings suggested that periplocin could inhibit the growth of lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which could be attributed to the inhibition of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis signaling pathway, such as AKT and ERK. These observations provide further evidence on the anti-tumor effect of periplocin, and it may be of importance to further explore its potential role as a therapeutic agent for cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Caspase 3; Caspase 9; Cell Survival; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; G1 Phase; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Nude; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle; Saponins; Signal Transduction; Transplantation, Heterologous