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Planta Med 2020; 86(18): 1401-1410
DOI: 10.1055/a-1211-4656
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers

Britanin Exhibits Potential Inhibitory Activity on Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Through PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Qi Zeng‡
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xiʼan, China
,
Yun Zeng‡
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xiʼan, China
,
Xu Nie
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xiʼan, China
,
Yingying Guo
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xiʼan, China
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xiʼan, China
,
Yonghua Zhan‡
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xiʼan, China
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 81627807
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 11727813
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 81701853
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 81571725
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 81871397
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 91859109
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 81660505
Supported by: Fok Ying-Tong Education Foundation of China 161104
Supported by: Program for the Young Top-notch Talent of Shaanxi Province, the Research Fund for Young Star of Science and Technology in Shaanxi Province 2018KJXX-018
Supported by: Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China 2018JM7072
Supported by: Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China 2019JQ-201
Supported by: Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China 2019JQ-045
Supported by: Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China 2020JM-209
Supported by: National Key R&D Program of China 2018YFC0910600
Supported by: Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities JB181203
Supported by: Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities JB191201
Supported by: Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities JB191209
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Abstract

Britanin, a natural pseudoguaiacane sesquiterpene lactone, has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, but little is known about its tumor inhibitory activity and the underlying mechanism. Here, we demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that britanin inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3, PC-3-LUC, and DU-145). Through in vitro study, the results showed that britanin significantly decreased cell proliferation, migration, and motility. The moderate toxicity of britanin was determined with an acute toxicity study. A luciferase-labeled animal tumor xenograft model and bioluminescence imaging were applied, combining with biological validation for assessing the tumor progression. In vivo results demonstrated that britanin inhibited the growth of PC-3-LUC. The interleukin-2 level in mice was upregulated by britanin, which indicated that britanin induced antitumor immune activation. In addition, britanin downregulated the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p105/p50, pp65, IκBα, pIκBα, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, pPI3k, Akt (protein kinase B, PKB), and pAkt proteins and upregulated expression of Bax. We discovered that britanin inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo by regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB-related proteins and activating immunity. These findings shed light on the development of britanin as a promising agent for prostate cancer therapy.

Key words

britanin - prostate cancer - bioluminescence imaging - PI3K/Akt/NF-κB

Supporting Information

    Dose-response curves of britanin on each cell lines; measurement of caspase-3 and caspase-9 by western blot; 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra of britanin; and details of the acute toxicity study of britanin, are available as Supporting Information.

  • Supporting Information


Publication History

Received: 15 October 2019

Accepted after revision: 01 July 2020

Article published online:
11 August 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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