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Shang X, Chen Z, Liu J, Xu S, Li L, Yang Z, Cui Y, Ruan P, Peng X. Physalin A Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Inhibition of PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:633-644. [PMID: 37400742 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10429-2] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Physalin A (PA) is a bioactive withanolide with multiple pharmacological properties and has been indicated to be cytotoxic to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2. This study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying PA antitumor activity in HCC. HepG2 cells were exposed to various concentrations of PA. Cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were implemented for evaluating cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for detecting autophagic protein LC3. Western blotting was employed for measuring levels of autophagy-, apoptosis- and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling-related proteins. A xenograft mouse model was established to verify the antitumor activity of PA in vivo. PA impaired HepG2 cell viability, and triggered apoptosis as well as autophagy. Inhibiting autophagy augmented PA-evoked HepG2 cell apoptosis. PA repressed PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC cells and activating PI3K/Akt reversed PA-triggered apoptosis and autophagy. PA treatment inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. PA triggers HCC cell apoptosis and autophagy by inactivating PI3K/Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Shang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Emergency, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Jianxiong Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Shuguo Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Longbiao Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Zhihong Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Yuansheng Cui
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Pingzhao Ruan
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Xiaolan Peng
- Department of Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, 13 Mindong East Road, Jiaocheng District, Ningde, 352100, China.
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Lu R, Xu H, Deng X, Wang Y, He Z, Xu S, Liang S, Huang X, You H, Guo F, Cheng P, Chen AM. Physalin A alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration via anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. J Orthop Translat 2023; 39:74-87. [PMID: 36788965 PMCID: PMC9898579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jot.2023.01.001] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The incidence of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a common degenerative disease with inflammation, decreased autophagy, and progression of fibrosis as its possible pathogenesis. Physalin A (PA) is a widely studied anti-inflammatory drug. However, its therapeutic effects on IVDD remain unexplored. Therefore, we aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of PA in IVDD progression. Materials and methods In vivo, we investigated PA bioactivity using a puncture-induced IVDD rat model. IVDD signals and height changes were detected using X-ray, micro-CT, and MRI, and structural and molecular lesions using histological staining and immunohistochemistry of intervertebral disc sections. In vivo, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and TGF-β1 were employed to establish inflammation fibrotic nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. The PA effect duration, concentration, influence pathways, and pathological changes in IVDD treatment were elucidated using western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence. Results PA exerted significant effects on IVDD remission due to anti-inflammation, fibrosis reduction, and autophagy enhancement. In vitro, PA improved inflammation by blocking the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, whereas it promoted autophagy via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and affected fibrotic progression by regulating the SMAD2/3 pathway. Moreover, PA improved the disc degeneration process in IVDD model. Conclusions PA exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects and improved autophagy in vivo and in vitro IVDD models, thus effectively relieving IVDD progression, indicating it is a promising agent for IVDD treatment. The translational potential of this article This study successfully reveals that PA, a natural bioactive withanolide, effectively relieved IVDD progression via inflammation inhibition, fibrosis reduction, and autophagy enhancement, indicating it is a promising agent for IVDD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haoran Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaofeng Deng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong, University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yingguang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhiyi He
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shimeng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shuang Liang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaojian Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hongbo You
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fengjing Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Peng Cheng
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China,Corresponding author. Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China.
| | - An-min Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China,Corresponding author. Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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Wang L, Gu J, Zong M, Zhang Q, Li H, Li D, Mou X, Liu P, Liu Y, Qiu F, Zhao F. Anti-inflammatory action of physalin A by blocking the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2021; 267:113490. [PMID: 33091501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Physalis Calyx seu Fructus is typically used to treat inflammatory diseases such as upper respiratory tract infection and acute tonsillitis in clinical practice of China. Physalin A, a main active ingredient of this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been reported for its significant anti-tumor activity. However, most reports focused on the studies of its anti-tumor activity, the anti-inflammatory activity of physalin A and its molecular mechanism are still not elucidated clearly. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities both in vitro and in vivo and molecular mechanism of physalin A. MATERIALS AND METHODS The potential anti-inflammatory properties of physalin A were evaluated in vitro by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and in vivo via two typical acute inflammation murine models. Some important inflammation-related molecules were analyzed by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. RESULTS The results showed that physalin A inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema of rats and capillary permeability of mice induced by acetic acid in vivo. Furthermore, physalin A also significantly reduced the release of inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 in vitro. Further investigations indicated that physalin A can down-regulate the high expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a dose-dependent manner. Physalin A remarkably blocked the degradation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha (IκB-α) and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. However, physalin A did not significantly inhibit the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) family proteins c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or p38. CONCLUSIONS All the results clearly illustrated that the anti-inflammatory action of physalin A is due to the inactivation of NF-κB signal pathway, but is irrelevant to the MAPKs pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Jinpo Gu
- Department of General Surgery, Yantai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yantai, 264000, PR China
| | - Mingyue Zong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Qingran Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Huixiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Danna Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng Mou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Pan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Yanan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Feng Qiu
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, PR China.
| | - Feng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China.
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Shin JM, Lee KM, Lee HJ, Yun JH, Nho CW. Physalin A regulates the Nrf2 pathway through ERK and p38 for induction of detoxifying enzymes. Altern Ther Health Med 2019; 19:101. [PMID: 31072358 PMCID: PMC6507134 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Physalin A isolated from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii has been known to have many pharmacological properties. However, its effect through the Nrf2 pathway has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we determined the effects of physalin A on cancer chemoprevention via the Nrf2 pathway. Methods Experiments were performed in Hepa-1c1c7 and HepG2 cells. The quinone reductase (QR) activity assay was used to assess the activity of physalin A and other compounds isolated from P. alkekengi. The antioxidant response element (ARE) reporter assay was used to determine physalin A induced transcription of Nrf2 target genes, whereas the oligonucleotide pull-down assay was used to investigate Nrf2 binding to the AREs post physalin A treatment. Real-time PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the expression of Nrf2 target genes. Immunocytochemistry was used to determine Nrf2 localization after treatment with physalin A. Kinase inhibitors were used to test the involvement of Nrf2-targeting kinases and the role of ERK and p38 phosphorylation was confirmed using western blotting. Results Physalin A significantly induced QR activity. As an upstream effector of QR, Nrf2 induced genes containing the ARE, which encode various antioxidants and detoxification enzymes. We observed that physalin A increased the expression of Nrf2 and its target genes in HepG2 cells. Moreover, we observed that physalin A-induced Nrf2 activation was regulated by ERK and p38 kinase in HepG2 cells. Conclusions Taken together, we showed that physalin A increased detoxifying enzyme expression via activation of Nrf2 and its target genes. These results imply that physalin A could be a potential chemopreventive agent for liver diseases, as well as cancer.
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Abstract
1. Physalin A is a bioactive withanolide isolated from the natural plant Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii (Solanaceae), a common traditional Chinese herbal medicine. This study aims to investigate the metabolites of physalin A in vivo. 2. Two metabolites (M1 and M2) were characterized as sulfonate metabolites in the feces obtained from rats treated with physalin A orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day for 3 days, by application of a UPLC-Q/TOF-MS method. Furthermore, formation of the two sulfonate metabolites was verified by chemical synthesis and NMR, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR and two-dimensional NMR. The structures of M1 and M2 were identified to be 3α-sulfo-2,25β,27-trihydrophysalin A and 3α,27-disulfo-2,25α-dihydrophysalin A, respectively. 3. In summary, this study indicated that physalin A could be biotransformed to sulfonate metabolites with strong polarity, which contributed to the elimination of physalin A. A rare metabolic pathway has been revealed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Liu
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China.,b Department of Natural Products Chemistry , School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang , P.R. China , and
| | - Kai Wang
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China
| | - Guiyang Xia
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China.,b Department of Natural Products Chemistry , School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang , P.R. China , and
| | - Kun Wang
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China
| | - Liwei Chai
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China
| | - Paul Owusu Donkor
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China
| | - Liqin Ding
- c Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China
| | - Feng Qiu
- a School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China.,b Department of Natural Products Chemistry , School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang , P.R. China , and.,c Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine , Tianjin , P.R. China
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Kang N, Jian JF, Cao SJ, Zhang Q, Mao YW, Huang YY, Peng YF, Qiu F, Gao XM. Physalin A induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in human non-small cell lung cancer cells: involvement of the p38 MAPK/ROS pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2016; 415:145-55. [PMID: 27000859 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-016-2686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Physalin A (PA) is an active withanolide isolated from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine named Jindenglong, which has long been used for the treatment of sore throat, hepatitis, and tumors in China. In the present study, we firstly investigated the effects of PA on proliferation and cell cycle distribution of the human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cell line, and the potential mechanisms involved. Here, PA inhibited cell growth in dose- and time-dependent manners. Treatment of A549 cells with 28.4 μM PA for 24 h resulted in approximately 50 % cell death. PA increased the amount of intracellular ROS and the proportion of cells in G2/M. G2/M arrest was attenuated by the addition of ROS scavenger NAC. ERK and P38 were triggered by PA through phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of ERK and P38 were not attenuated by the addition of NAC, but the use of the p38 inhibitor could reduce, at least in part, PA-induced ROS and the proportion of cells in G2/M. PA induces G2/M cell cycle arrest in A549 cells involving in the p38 MAPK/ROS pathway. This study suggests that PA might be a promising therapeutic agent against NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Kang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China.,Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Feng Jian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Jie Cao
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Wei Mao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Yuan Huang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Fei Peng
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Qiu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiu-Mei Gao
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People's Republic of China.
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