Antitumor Activity of Spicatoside A by Modulation of Autophagy and Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Won Kyung Kim, Yuna Pyee, Hwa Jin Chung, Hyen Joo Park, Ji Young Hong, Kun Ho Son, Sang Kook Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The antitumor activity of spicatoside A (1), a steroidal saponin isolated from the tuber of Liriope platyphylla, and its underlying mechanisms were investigated in HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells. Compound 1 induced autophagy and apoptotic cell death and inhibited tumor growth in a nude mouse xenograft model implanted with HCT116 cells. Treatment with 1 for 24 h enhanced the formation of acidic vesicular organelles in the cytoplasm, indicating the induction of the onset of autophagy. This event was associated with the regulation of autophagic markers including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II, p62, beclin 1, lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP 1), and cathepsin D by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and increasing p53 levels. However, a prolonged exposure to 1 resulted in apoptosis characterized by the accumulation of a sub-G1 cell population and an annexin V/propidium iodide (PI)-positive cell population. Apoptosis induced by 1 was associated with the regulation of apoptotic proteins including Bcl-2, Bax, and Bid, the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, and the accumulation of cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Further study revealed that cleavage of beclin 1 by caspases plays a critical role in the 1-mediated switch from autophagy to apoptosis. Taken together, these findings highlight the significance of 1 in the modulation of crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis, as well as the potential use of 1 as a novel candidate in the treatment of human colorectal cancer cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1097-1104
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Natural Products
Volume79
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Apr 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy.

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