Brazilin inhibits bladder cancer by promoting cell necroptosis

Brazilin possesses anticancer effects, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated the mechanisms of brazilin-induced cell death in the T24 human bladder cancer cell line. Low serum cell culture and the lactate dehydrogenase assay were used to confirm the antitumor effect of brazilin. Annexin V and propidium iodide double staining, transmission electron microscopy, fluo-3-AM assay for Ca²⁺ mobilization and caspase activity assay were performed to identify the type of cell death after brazilin treatment. Mitochondria membrane potentials were measured using JC-1. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed to verify the expression of the necroptosis-related genes and proteins receptor interacting protein 1 (RIP1), RIP3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). The results showed that brazilin induced necrosis in T24 cells and upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of RIP1, RIP3 and MLKL and Ca²⁺ influx. The necroptosis-mediated cell death was rescued by the necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), but not by the apoptosis inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. Brazilin repressed caspase 8 expression and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potentials; both effects were partially reversed by Nec-1. Brazilin induced physiological and morphological changes in T24 cells and RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis might be involved. In conclusion, the results confirm the involvement of necroptosis in brazilin-induced cell death and suggest that brazilin could be explored as an anticancer agent against bladder cancer.