Polydatin Increases Radiosensitivity by Inducing Apoptosis of Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer

This study aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of polydatin (PD) on colorectal cancer (CRC) and its underlying mechanism. The C57BL/6 mouse model of CRC was induced by treatment with azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and then divided into four groups: control, PD alone, IR alone, and combination of PD and IR. Radiation therapy (200 cGy/min, 10Gy) was performed in mice in the experimental groups for once a week with a total of four times. Thirty minutes before IR, mice were intraperitoneally injected with PD at the dose of 25mg/kg. The number and volume of CRC xenografts were calculated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of Ki67 and cleaved caspase-3 in tumor tissues samples. The effects of PD on proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated in CT26 and HCT116 colon tumor cells. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 positive (Lgr5⁺) cancer stem cells (CSCs) were sorted from CT26 cells and the effects of PD on their proliferation and apoptosis were observed to elucidate the radiosensitizing mechanism of PD in CRC cells. Combined therapy with PD and IR significantly decreased tumor volume, inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of tumor cells in the mouse model of CRC compared to other three groups. Compared to the IR group, in vitro assay showed that PD combined with IR inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of CT26 and HCT116 colon tumor cells as well as Lgr5⁺ CSCs. However, addition of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptor inhibitor K02288 (6.4nM) dramatically increased proliferation of Lgr5⁺ CSCs and abolished the cytotoxic effect of PD combined with IR on Lgr5⁺ CSCs. The in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that IR combined treatment with PD could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of CRC cells and Lgr5⁺ CSCs, and BMP signaling pathway was involved in the radiosensitizing effect of PD.