Flavan enantiomers from Daphne giraldii selectively induce apoptotic cell death in p53-null hepatocarcinoma cells in

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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

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Guo-Dong Yao1, Qian Sun2, Xiao-Yu Song1

  • 1Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.

Chemico-Biological Interactions
|April 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

New flavan enantiomers selectively target hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells lacking the p53 gene. These compounds, daphnegiranol D1/D2, show potent cytotoxicity and induce apoptosis, offering a promising avenue for HCC treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Natural Products Chemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant therapeutic challenge due to its poor prognosis.
  • Identifying novel compounds with potent anticancer activity is crucial for advancing HCC treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize new flavan enantiomers from Daphne giraldii.
  • To evaluate the cytotoxic effects of these compounds on various hepatocarcinoma cell lines.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of action, particularly concerning the role of p53.

Main Methods:

  • Chiral chromatography for isolation of flavan enantiomers.
  • MTT assay for cytotoxicity evaluation against Hep3B, MHCC97H, HepG2, and L02 cell lines.
  • Analysis of apoptosis induction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Main Results:

  • Two pairs of flavan enantiomers, daphnegiranols C1/C2 (1a/1b) and D1/D2 (2a/2b), were isolated.
  • Compounds 2a/2b demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against p53-null Hep3B cells, outperforming sorafenib.
  • Cytotoxicity was selective for p53-null cells, with p53-wild cells showing >10-fold higher IC50 values.
  • Compounds 2a/2b induced apoptosis and increased ROS generation in Hep3B cells.

Conclusions:

  • Flavan enantiomers 2a/2b exhibit selective cytotoxicity towards p53-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
  • These compounds induce apoptosis and ROS generation, suggesting a targeted therapeutic potential.
  • The p53 status of cancer cells is a critical factor in their sensitivity to these novel flavan enantiomers.
Keywords:
ApoptosisDaphne giraldiiFlavan enantiomersHepatocellular carcinomaReactive oxygen speciesp53

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