Celastrus orbiculatus Extract Reduces Stemness of Gastric Cancer Stem Cells by Targeting PDCD4 and EIF3H

Celastrus orbiculatus ethyl acetate extract (COE) has shown a strong anti-gastric cancer effect, but the understanding of its mechanism is still lacking. The results of previous studies indicated that COE may be able to inhibit the stemness of gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) by regulating PDCD4 and EIF3H expression.

To explore if COE could inhibit the stemness of GCSCs by regulating PDCD4 and EIF3H expression in vitro and in vivo.

The GCSCs model was established by stem cell-conditioned culture. Spheroid formation and flow cytometry assays were used to detect the effect of COE on the spheroid formation ability of GCSCs and the percentage of CD44⁺/CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ cell subpopulations. Western blot analysis was applied to measure the expression of GCSCs biomarkers (Nanog, Oct-4, and SOX-2), PDCD4, and EIF3H in GCSCs treated with COE; and RT-PCR was performed to investigate the effect of COE on PDCD4 mRNA expression in GCSCs. An in vivo tumorigenicity experiment was also conducted to evaluate the effect of COE on tumor-initiating ability of GCSCs in vivo; and the expression of PDCD4 and EIF3H in xenograft tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.

After culture in stem cell-conditioned medium, SGC7901 cells manifested significantly enhanced spheroid formation ability, upregulated Nanog, Oct-4, and SOX-2 expression and increased percentages of CD44⁺/CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ cell subpopulations, indicating successful establishment of the GCSCs model. COE treatment significantly inhibited the spheroid formation ability of GCSCs and reduced the percentage of CD44⁺/CD24⁺ and ALDH⁺ cell subpopulations. The western blot analysis showed a significant decrease of Nanog, Oct-4, SOX-2, and EIF3H expression and an increase of PDCD4 expression in GCSCs after COE treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. COE treatment also significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of PDCD4 in GCSCs. In addition, COE displayed a strong inhibitory effect on the tumor-initiating ability of GCSCs in vivo and upregulated PDCD4 and downregulated EIF3H expression in xenograft tissues.

COE may be able to inhibit GC growth by suppressing the stemness of GCSCs via regulating PDCD4 and EIF3H expression.