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Pien Tze Huang Inhibits Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells through Suppressing PNO1 Expression and Activating

Liu-Jing Cao1,2, Li-Ya Liu1,2, You-Qin Chen3

  • 1Clinical Research Institute, the Second Affiliated Hospital & Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China.

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine
|January 12, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Pien Tze Huang (PZH) inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) by regulating PNO1 expression. This traditional Chinese medicine down-regulates PNO1, up-regulating p53 and p21 to reduce tumor growth and promote apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health challenge.
  • Pien Tze Huang (PZH), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown potential anti-cancer properties.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms underlying PZH's effects in CRC are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulatory role of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) on targeting partner of NOB1 (PNO1) in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.
  • To elucidate the downstream mediators affected by PZH-PNO1 interaction in CRC.
  • To determine the therapeutic potential of targeting PNO1 in CRC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting were used to assess PNO1, p53, and p21 expression at mRNA and protein levels.
  • In vitro studies involved lentiviral transduction for PNO1 overexpression or knockdown in HCT-8 CRC cells, followed by assays for cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis.
  • In vivo studies utilized xenograft mouse models with PNO1 knockdown or control in HCT116 tumor cells to evaluate tumor growth, proliferation, and apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • PZH treatment significantly decreased HCT-8 cell viability, down-regulated PNO1, and up-regulated p53 and p21.
  • PNO1 overexpression counteracted PZH's effects on cell growth, viability, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in vitro.
  • PNO1 knockdown abolished PZH's anti-tumor effects in vivo, including inhibition of tumor growth, proliferation, and induction of apoptosis, while also affecting PNO1, p53, and p21 expression.

Conclusions:

  • Pien Tze Huang (PZH) exerts its anti-proliferative effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) at least partly through the regulation of PNO1 expression.
  • The downstream targets p53 and p21 are critical mediators in the PZH-induced anti-cancer pathway.
  • Targeting the PNO1/p53/p21 axis represents a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment.
Keywords:
Chinese medicinePien Tze Huangcolorectal cancerp53/p21 pathwaypartner of NOB1proliferation

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