Experimental study of piperlongumine inducing apoptosis of human breast adenoma MDA-MB-231 cells

Piperlongumine, an alkaloid causes inhibition of PI3 K/Akt/mTOR signaling axis to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in human triple-negative breast cancer cells

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis plays a central role in cell proliferation, growth and survival under physiological conditions. However, aberrant PI3 K/Akt/mTOR signaling has been implicated in many human cancers, including human triple negative breast cancer. Therefore, dual inhibitors of PI3 K/Akt and mTOR signaling could be valuable agents for treating breast cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of piperlongumine (PPLGM), a natural alkaloid on PI3 K/Akt/mTOR signaling, Akt mediated regulation of NF-kB and apoptosis evasion in human breast cancer cells. Using molecular docking studies, we found that PPLGM physically interacts with the conserved domain of PI3 K and mTOR kinases and the results were comparable with standard dual inhibitor PF04691502. Our results demonstrated that treatment of different human triple-negative breast cancer cells with PPLGM resulted in concentration- and time-dependent growth inhibition. The inhibition of cancer cell growth was associated with G1-phase cell cycle arrest and down-regulation of the NF-kB pathway leads to activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. It was also found that PPLGM significantly decreased the expression of p-Akt, p70S6K1, 4E-BP1, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, p53 and increased expression of Bax, cytochrome c in human triple-negative breast cancer cells. Although insulin treatment increased the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473), p70S6K1, 4E-BP1, PPLGM abolished the insulin mediated phosphorylation, it clearly indicates that PPLGM acts through PI3 k/Akt/mTOR axis. Our results suggest that PPLGM may be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of human triple negative breast cancer.

Radio-sensitization by Piper longumine of human breast adenoma MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro

BACKGROUND

The current study investigated the effects of Piper longumine on radio-sensitization of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in vitro and those in logarithmic growth phase were selected for experiments divided into four groups: control, X-ray exposed, Piper longumine, and Piper longumine combined with X-rays. Conogenic assays were performed to determine the radio-sensitizing effects. Cell survival curves were fitted by single-hit multi-target model and then the survival fraction (SF), average lethal dose (D0), quasi-threshold dose (Dq) and sensitive enhancement ratio (SER) were calculated. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).Western blot assays were employed for expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bc1-2 and Bax) after treatment with Piper longumine and/or X-ray radiation. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by FCM with a DCFH-DA probe.

RESULTS

The cloning formation capacity was decreased in the group of piperlongumine plus radiation, which displayed the values of SF2, D0, Dq significantly lower than those of radiation alone group and the sensitive enhancement ratio (SER) of D0 was1.22 and 1.29, respectively. The cell apoptosis rate was increased by the combination treatment of Piper longumine and radiation. Piper longumine increased the radiation-induced intracellular levels of ROS. Compared with the control group and individual group, the combination group demonstrated significantly decreased expression of Bcl-2 with increased Bax.

CONCLUSIONS

Piper longumine at a non-cytotoxic concentration can enhance the radio-sensitivity of MDA- MB-231cells, which may be related to its regulation of apoptosis-related protein expression and the increase of intracellular ROS level, thus increasing radiation-induced apoptosis.