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Pongking T, Thongpon P, Intuyod K, Klungsaeng S, Thanan R, Chaidee A, Charoenram N, Kongsintaweesuk S, Sakonsinsiri C, Vaeteewoottacharn K, Pinlaor S, Pinlaor P. Cannabidiol exhibits potent anti-cancer activity against gemcitabine-resistant cholangiocarcinoma via ER-stress induction in vitro and in vivo. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:325. [PMID: 39215312 PMCID: PMC11365133 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04610-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Failure of treatment with gemcitabine in most cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients is due to drug resistance. The therapeutic potential of natural plant secondary compounds with minimal toxicity, such as cannabidiol (CBD), is a promising line of investigation in gemcitabine-resistant CCA. We aim to investigate the effects of CBD on gemcitabine-resistant CCA (KKU-213BGemR) cells in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS In vitro, cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were assessed using MTT assay, clonogenicity assay and flow cytometry. The effect of CBD on ROS production was evaluated using the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe. The mechanism exerted by CBD on ER stress-associated apoptosis was investigated by western blot analysis. A gemcitabine-resistant CCA xenograft model was also used and the expression of PCNA and CHOP were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS The IC50 values of CBD for KKU-213BGemR cells ranged from 19.66 to 21.05 µM. For a non-cancerous immortalized fibroblast cell line, relevant values were 18.29 to 19.21 µM. CBD suppressed colony formation by KKU-213BGemR cells in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 10 to 30 µM. CBD at 30 µM significantly increased apoptosis at early (16.37%) (P = 0.0024) and late (1.8%) stages (P < 0.0001), for a total of 18.17% apoptosis (P = 0.0017), in part by increasing ROS production (P < 0.0001). Multiphase cell cycle arrest significantly increased at G0/G1 with CBD 10 and 20 µM (P = 0.004 and P = 0.017), and at G2/M with CBD 30 µM (P = 0.005). CBD treatment resulted in increased expression of ER stress-associated apoptosis proteins, including p-PERK, BiP, ATF4, CHOP, BAX, and cytochrome c. In xenografted mouse, CBD significantly suppressed tumors at 10 and 40 mg/kg·Bw (P = 0.0007 and P = 0.0278, respectively), which was supported by an increase in CHOP, but a decrease in PCNA expression in tumor tissues (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The results suggest that CBD exhibits potent anti-cancer activity against gemcitabine-resistant CCA in vitro and in vivo, in part via ER stress-mediated mechanisms. These results indicate that clinical explorative use of CBD on gemcitabine-resistant CCA patients is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thatsanapong Pongking
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Phonpilas Thongpon
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Kitti Intuyod
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Sirinapha Klungsaeng
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Raynoo Thanan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Apisit Chaidee
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Naruechar Charoenram
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Suppakrit Kongsintaweesuk
- Medical Sciences Program, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Chadamas Sakonsinsiri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Somchai Pinlaor
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Porntip Pinlaor
- Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
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Pinto TG, Dos Anjos Rosario B, de Moraes Malinverni AC, Xavier R, Ferreira YAM, Pisani LP, de Aquino PEA, de Barros Viana GS, de Souza DV, de Barros Viana M, Ribeiro DA. Cytogenotoxicity and inflammatory response in liver of rats exposed to different doses of cannabis nano emulsions. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1877-1890. [PMID: 38494580 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03712-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Cannabis is the most used illicit substance for recreational purposes around the world. However, it has become increasingly common to witness the use of approved cannabis preparations for symptoms management in various diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cannabis nano emulsion in the liver of Wistar rats, with different proportions of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). For this, a total of 40 male Wistar rats were distributed into 5 groups, as follows (n = 8 per group): Control: G1, Experimental group (G2): treated with cannabis nano emulsion (THC and CBD) at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, Experimental group (G3): treated with cannabis nano emulsion (THC and CBD) at a dose of 5 mg/kg, Experimental group (G4): treated with cannabis nano emulsion (CBD) at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg; Experimental group (G5): treated with cannabis nano emulsion (CBD) at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Exposure to the nano emulsion was carried out for 21 days, once a day, orally (gavage). Our results showed that cannabis nano emulsions at higher doses (5 mg/kg), regardless of the composition, induced histopathologic changes in the liver (G3 and G5) in comparison with the control group. In line with that, placental glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) positive foci increased in both G3 and G5 (p < 0.05), as well as the immune expression of Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 (p < 0.05). Also, the nano emulsion intake induced an increase in the number of micronucleated hepatocytes in G5 (p < 0.05) whereas G3 showed an increase in binucleated cells (p < 0.05). As for metanuclear alterations, karyolysis and pyknosis had an increased frequency in G3 (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results show that intake of cannabis nano emulsion may induce degenerative changes and genotoxicity in the liver in higher doses, demonstrating a clear dose-response relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Guedes Pinto
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil
| | - Barbara Dos Anjos Rosario
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil
| | | | - Rosana Xavier
- Department of Pathology, Paulista Medical School, Federal University of Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Alaby Martins Ferreira
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil
| | - Luciana Pellegrini Pisani
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil
| | | | | | - Daniel Vitor de Souza
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil
| | - Milena de Barros Viana
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil
| | - Daniel Araki Ribeiro
- Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Room 332, Vila Mathias, Santos, SP, 11050-020, Brazil.
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Rybarczyk A, Majchrzak-Celińska A, Krajka-Kuźniak V. Targeting Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Cancer Prevention and Treatment: The Role of Cannabis Compounds. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:2052. [PMID: 38136172 PMCID: PMC10740807 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12122052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The development and progression of cancer are associated with the dysregulation of multiple pathways involved in cell proliferation and survival, as well as dysfunction in redox balance, immune response, and inflammation. The master antioxidant pathway, known as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, regulates the cellular defense against oxidative stress and inflammation, making it a promising cancer prevention and treatment target. Cannabinoids have demonstrated anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties, affecting signaling pathways, including Nrf2. Increased oxidative stress following exposure to anti-cancer therapy prompts cancer cells to activate antioxidant mechanisms. This indicates the dual effect of Nrf2 in cancer cells-influencing proliferation and apoptotic processes and protecting against the toxicity of anti-cancer therapy. Therefore, understanding the complex role of cannabinoids in modulating Nrf2 might shed light on its potential implementation as an anti-cancer support. In this review, we aim to highlight the impact of cannabinoids on Nrf2-related factors, with a focus on cancer prevention and treatment. Additionally, we have presented the results of several research studies that combined cannabidiol (CBD) with other compounds targeting Nrf2. Further studies should be directed toward exploring the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids in the context of cancer prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Violetta Krajka-Kuźniak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznań, Poland; (A.R.); (A.M.-C.)
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Kwon IS, Hwang YN, Park JH, Na HH, Kwon TH, Park JS, Kim KC. Metallothionein Family Proteins as Regulators of Zinc Ions Synergistically Enhance the Anticancer Effect of Cannabidiol in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16621. [PMID: 38068944 PMCID: PMC10705991 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical obtained from Cannabis sativa; it has therapeutic effects on anxiety and cognition and anti-inflammatory properties. Although pharmacological applications of CBD in many types of tumors have recently been reported, the mechanism of action of CBD is not yet fully understood. In this study, we perform an mRNA-seq analysis to identify the target genes of CBD after determining the cytotoxic concentrations of CBD using an MTT assay. CBD treatment regulated the expression of genes related to DNA repair and cell division, with metallothionein (MT) family genes being identified as having highly increased expression levels induced by CBD. It was also found that the expression levels of MT family genes were decreased in colorectal cancer tissues compared to those in normal tissues, indicating that the downregulation of MT family genes might be highly associated with colorectal tumor progression. A qPCR experiment revealed that the expression levels of MT family genes were increased by CBD. Moreover, MT family genes were regulated by CBD or crude extract but not by other cannabinoids, suggesting that the expression of MT family genes was specifically induced by CBD. A synergistic effect between CBD and MT gene transfection or zinc ion treatment was found. In conclusion, MT family genes as novel target genes could synergistically increase the anticancer activity of CBD by regulating the zinc ions in human colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Seo Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea; (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (J.-H.P.); (H.-H.N.)
| | - Yu-Na Hwang
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea; (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (J.-H.P.); (H.-H.N.)
| | - Ju-Hee Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea; (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (J.-H.P.); (H.-H.N.)
| | - Han-Heom Na
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea; (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (J.-H.P.); (H.-H.N.)
- Kangwon Center for System Imaging, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hyung Kwon
- Chuncheon Bioindustry Foundation, Chuncheon 24232, Kangwon, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jin-Sung Park
- Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Seoul 07525, Republic of Korea;
| | - Keun-Cheol Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea; (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (J.-H.P.); (H.-H.N.)
- Kangwon Center for System Imaging, Chuncheon 24341, Kangwon, Republic of Korea
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