Geniposide Suppresses Tumor Progression Through DUOX1-Mediated Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Among the spectrum of digestive system cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a particularly formidable challenge due to its poor prognosis. Geniposide, an iridoid glucoside extracted from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, exhibits a diverse array of biological activities. The goal of this study is to delineate the specific roles and underlying mechanisms of geniposide on the progression of HCC. Cell viability, apoptosis and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells were, respectively, assessed via CCK-8, flow cytometry and trans-well assays. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed with a dihydroethidium (DHE) probe. The measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was conducted using JC-1 staining. Ferroptosis-related markers were evaluated by Western Blot assay. Transcriptome sequencing was performed in HCC cells both treated and untreated with geniposide. In vivo experiments were applied with the subcutaneous xenograft tumor model. In vitro experiments revealed that geniposide exerted a concentration-dependent suppression on cell viability and migration, concurrently eliciting apoptosis in HCC cells. Ferroptosis was identified as the main form of geniposide-induced cell death in HCC. Geniposide promoted the iron ions levels, ROS accumulation, and the expression of ferroptosis markers, which were partially reversed by the addition of deferoxamine (DFO, ferroptosis inhibitor). Intersection analysis was applied between upregulated genes of HCC cells and ferroptosis-related genes. DUOX1 was proven to be involved in geniposide-mediated roles in HCC. In vivo experiments further clarified the suppressive effects of geniposide on tumors. Geniposide treatment increased intracellular iron ions and induced ferroptosis in HCC. Geniposide attenuated tumor progression and oxidative stress via DUOX1-mediated ferroptosis.