Monotropein inhibits colitis associated cancer through VDR/JAK1/STAT1 regulation of macrophage polarization

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing concern due to its high morbidity and mortality, and the search for effective and less toxic active substances against inflammatory bowel diseases has been a hot topic in the research and development of drugs against CRC. It is reported that monotropein isolated from the roots of Morinda officinalis, can improve Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice, but its therapeutic effects and mechanisms for CRC treatment are still to be investigated. In the present study, we first used molecular docking, BLI, CESTA, and DARTS methods to detest whether monotropein targets VDR proteins. In addition, we used tumor cell conditioned co-culture and four models of macrophage polarisation to investigate the regulation of four macrophage polarisations by monotropein using RT-PCR, IF and western blot. Furthermore, we further validated the target of action of monotropein for the treatment of Azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS induced colitis associated cancer (CAC) using knockout animals. Meanwhile, we further explored the mechanism of action of monotropein in regulating polarisation by detecting JAK/STAT1-related genes and proteins. Molecular docking and biofilm interference techniques showed that monotropein bound to the VDR, and additional results from CESTA and DARTS suggested that VDR proteins are targets of monotropein. Furthermore, in tumor cell conditioned co-cultures or LPS + IFN-γ induced RAW264.7 cells, VDR translocation to the nucleus was reduced, JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway proteins were up-regulated, and macrophages were polarised towards the M1-type after monotropein intervention. Animal models in which normal VDR or myeloid VDR was knocked out confirmed that JAK1 levels in intestinal tissues were increased after monotropein intervention, macrophages were polarised towards the M1 type, and CAC paracarcinomas were ameliorated. Taken together, the present study concluded that monotropein inhibited colitis-associated cancers through macrophage polarisation regulated by VDR/JAK1/STAT1.