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Ku JM, Kim MJ, Choi YJ, Lee SY, Im JY, Jo YK, Yoon S, Kim JH, Cha JW, Shin YC, Ko SG. JI017 Induces Cell Autophagy and Apoptosis via Elevated Levels of Reactive Oxygen Species in Human Lung Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087528. [PMID: 37108692 PMCID: PMC10145189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and a leading cause of cancer-related death in the worldwide. Various anticancer drugs, such as cisplatin and pemetrexed, have been developed for lung cancer treatment but due their drug resistance and side effects, novel treatments need to be developed. In this study, the efficacy of the natural drug JI017, which is known to have few side effects, was tested in lung cancer cells. JI017 inhibited A549, H460, and H1299 cell proliferation. JI017 induced apoptosis, regulated apoptotic molecules, and inhibited colony formation. Additionally, JI017 increased intracellular ROS generation. JI017 downregulated PI3K, AKT, and mTOR expression. JI017 increased the cytosolic accumulation of LC3. We found that JI017 promoted apoptosis through ROS-induced autophagy. Additionally, the xenograft tumor size was smaller in JI017-treated mice. We found that JI017 treatment increased MDA concentrations, decreased Ki-67 protein levels, and increased cleaved caspase-3 and LC3 levels in vivo. JI017 decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis by inducing autophagy signaling in H460 and H1299 lung cancer cells. Targeting JI017 and autophagy signaling could be useful in lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Mo Ku
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jeong Kim
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Jeong Choi
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Yeon Lee
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yeong Im
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Kyu Jo
- Department of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghoon Yoon
- Department of Applied Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hyun Kim
- Department of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jie Won Cha
- Department of Applied Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Cheol Shin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Gyu Ko
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
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Kim TW, Ko SG. The Herbal Formula JI017 Induces ER Stress via Nox4 in Breast Cancer Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10121881. [PMID: 34942984 PMCID: PMC8698338 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10121881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy is a powerful anti-tumor therapeutic strategy; however, resistance to treatment remains a serious concern. To overcome chemoresistance, combination therapy with anticancer drugs is a potential strategy. We developed a novel herbal extract, JI017, with lower toxicity and lesser side effects. JI017 induced programmed cell death and excessive unfolded protein response through the release of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium in breast cancer cells. JI017 treatment increased the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, including p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, and CHOP, via the activation of both exosomal GRP78 and cell lysate GRP78. The ROS inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium and N-acetyl cysteine suppressed apoptosis and excessive ER stress by inhibiting Nox4 in JI017-treated breast cancer cells. Furthermore, in paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7R and MDA-MB-231R, a combination of JI017 and paclitaxel overcame paclitaxel resistance by blocking epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes, such as the downregulation of E-cadherin expression and the upregulation of HIF-1α, vimentin, Snail, and Slug expression. These findings suggested that JI017 exerts a powerful anti-cancer effect in breast cancer and a combination therapy of JI017 and paclitaxel may be a potential cancer therapy for paclitaxel resistant breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seong-Gyu Ko
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-961-0329; Fax: +82-2-961-1165
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Kim T, Ko SG. JI017, a Complex Herbal Medication, Induces Apoptosis via the Nox4-PERK-CHOP Axis in Ovarian Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12264. [PMID: 34830138 PMCID: PMC8621090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Many anti-cancer drugs, including paclitaxel and etoposide, have originated and been developed from natural products, and traditional herbal medicines have fewer adverse effects and lesser toxicity than anti-tumor reagents. Therefore, we developed a novel complex herbal medicine, JI017, which mediates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis through the Nox4-PERK-CHOP signaling pathway in ovarian cancer cells. JI017 treatment increases the expression of GRP78, ATF4, and CHOP and the phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α via the upregulation of Nox4. Furthermore, it increases the release of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the production of intracellular Ca2+, and the activation of exosomal GRP78 and cell lysate GRP78. Combination treatment using the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) and JI017 reportedly induces increased ER stress and cell death in comparison to the control; however, knockdown experiments of PERK and CHOP indicated suppressed apoptosis and ER stress in JI017-treated ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, targeting Nox4 using specific siRNA and pharmacological ROS inhibitors, including N-acetylcystein and diphenylene iodonium, blocked apoptosis and ER stress in JI017-treated ovarian cancer cells. In the radioresistant ovarian cancer model, when compared to JI017 alone, JI017 co-treatment with radiation induced greater cell death and resulted in overcoming radioresistance by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal-transition-related phenomena such as the reduction of E-cadherin and the increase of N-cadherin, vimentin, Slug, and Snail. These findings suggest that JI017 is a powerful anti-cancer drug for ovarian cancer treatment and that its combination treatment with radiation may be a novel therapeutic strategy for radioresistant ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seong-Gyu Ko
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea;
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Lee JH, Ji H, Ko SG, Kim W. JI017 Attenuates Oxaliplatin-Induced Cold Allodynia via Spinal TRPV1 and Astrocytes Inhibition in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8811. [PMID: 34445514 PMCID: PMC8396301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxaliplatin, a well-known chemotherapeutic agent, can induce severe neuropathic pain, which can seriously decrease the quality of life of patients. JI017 is an herb mixture composed of Aconitum carmichaelii, Angelica gigas, and Zingiber officinale. Its anti-tumor effect has been reported; however, the efficacy of JI017 against oxaliplatin-induced allodynia has never been explored. Single oxaliplatin injection [6 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, (i.p.)] induced both cold and mechanical allodynia, and oral administration of JI017 (500 mg/kg) alleviated cold but not mechanical allodynia in mice. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis demonstrated that the upregulation of mRNA of spinal transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and astrocytes following oxaliplatin injection was downregulated after JI017 treatment. Moreover, TRPV1 expression and the activation of astrocytes were intensely increased in the superficial area of the spinal dorsal horn after oxaliplatin treatment, whereas JI017 suppressed both. The administration of TRPV1 antagonist [capsazepine, intrathecal (i.t.), 10 μg] attenuated the activation of astrocytes in the dorsal horn, demonstrating that the functions of spinal TRPV1 and astrocytes are closely related in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain. Altogether, these results suggest that JI017 may be a potent candidate for the management of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy as it decreases pain, spinal TRPV1, and astrocyte activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hwan Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Hyunseung Ji
- Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Seong-Gyu Ko
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Woojin Kim
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
- Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
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Kim MJ, Ku JM, Hong SH, Kim HI, Kwon YY, Park JS, Jung DH, Shin YC, Ko SG. In vitro Anticancer Effects of JI017 on Two Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Involve Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediated by Elevated Levels of Reactive Oxygen Species. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:683575. [PMID: 34054558 PMCID: PMC8155384 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.683575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, and prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in United States men after lung cancer. Many therapies are used to treat prostate cancer, and chemotherapy is one of the most relevant treatments. However, chemotherapy has many side effects, and repeated administration of chemotherapeutic agents leads to acquired resistance. Thus, new drugs with few side effects are needed. We investigated the molecular mechanism of action of JI017 in human prostate cancer cells. We identified an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway that depended on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway and played a crucial role in JI017-induced apoptosis. We measured cell viability by the MTS assay to determine the effect of JI017. Analysis of apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell cycle features was performed by flow cytometry. We used western blot and RT-PCR to measure the levels of the proteins of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and apoptosis markers. Immunoprecipitation assay and transfection were used to determine the expression levels of proteins interacting with the pathways influenced by JI017 in prostate cancer cells. The anticancer effects induced by JI017 were evaluated. JI017 induced cell death that regulated apoptotic molecules and caused cell cycle arrest that inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells. Moreover, JI017 generated ROS. Accumulation of ROS caused ER stress through the PERK-eIF2α-CHOP and IRE1α-CHOP pathways. Furthermore, persistent activation of the UPR pathway induced by JI017 treatment triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, including dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, which activated intrinsic apoptotic pathway in human prostate cancer cells. The data indicated that N-acetyl-L-cysteine diminished apoptosis. We demonstrated that JI017 induced ER stress and cell death. Anticancer properties of JI017 in prostate cancer cells and in a human prostate cancer model involved ROS-mediated ER stress. Thus, JI017 treatment provides a new strategy for chemotherapy of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Jeong Kim
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Mo Ku
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Pharmacological Toxicology Laboratory, Jeil Pharmaceutical, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Se Hyang Hong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyo In Kim
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yun Young Kwon
- Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joon-Sang Park
- Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Deok Hyun Jung
- Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yong Cheol Shin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seong-Gyu Ko
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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