Miltirone induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS-dependent apoptosis in colon cancer cells
Lin Wang1, Tao Hu2, Jing Shen2
1School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Targets Research and New Drug Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
Aims:
To study the characteristics of miltirone-induced anti-colon cancer effects.
Materials And Methods:
Cell viability was detected using MTT assay. LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) leakage was detected using CytoTox96® non-radioactive cytotoxicity kit. Apoptosis was detected by FCM (flow cytometry). Caspase activation was determined by chemiluminescence or western blotting. AIF (apoptosis-inducing factor) expression in the cell fraction was determined by western blotting. ROS (reactive oxygen species), MMP (mitochondrial membrane potential) and mitochondrial mass were determined by confocal microscope. Intracellular calcium was detected by both FCM and confocal microscope. To determine the roles of ROS and Ca(2+) in the pro-apoptotic activity of miltirone, colon cancer cells were pretreated with kinds of antioxidants, dicoumarol, calpeptin or BAPTA-AM in some cases.
Key Findings:
Miltirone exhibited potent cytotoxicity on colon cancer cells with a better selectivity than that of dihydrotanshinone. The pro-apoptotic activity of miltirone was p53- and ROS-dependent. In detail, miltirone induced direct mitochondrial damage, including significant decrease of mitochondrial ROS, MMP, mass and increase of intracellular ROS and Ca(2+). NQO1 (quinone oxidoreductase1) was supposed to be a defender for the cytotoxicity induced by miltirone in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, miltirone induced time- and concentration-dependent translocation of AIF and activation of caspases.
Significance:
In this study, ROS- and p53-dependent apoptosis induced by miltirone on colon cancer cells was firstly revealed. Strong positive feedback between mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of intracellular Ca(2+) was suggested to be the characteristic of the anti-colon cancer activity of miltirone.
Insights
Miltirone effectively combats colon cancer by inducing apoptosis, a process dependent on p53 and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This involves mitochondrial damage and calcium buildup, offering a new therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Colon cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.
- Novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed to improve treatment outcomes.
- Miltirone, a derivative of tanshinone, has shown potential anti-cancer properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-colon cancer effects of miltirone.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying miltirone's cytotoxicity.
- To determine the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium in miltirone's action.
Main Methods:
- Cell viability assessed by MTT assay.
- Apoptosis detected via flow cytometry (FCM).
- Mitochondrial function, ROS, and intracellular calcium levels measured using confocal microscopy and FCM.
Main Results:
- Miltirone demonstrated potent and selective cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells.
- Miltirone-induced apoptosis was dependent on p53 and ROS.
- Miltirone caused mitochondrial damage, increased intracellular ROS, and elevated intracellular calcium.
Conclusions:
- Miltirone induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells through a ROS- and p53-dependent pathway.
- A positive feedback loop between mitochondrial dysfunction and intracellular calcium accumulation characterizes miltirone's anti-colon cancer activity.
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