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Deng ZT, Liang SF, Huang GK, Wang YQ, Tu XY, Zhang YN, Li S, Liu T, Cheng BB. Autophagy plays a pro-apoptotic role in arsenic trioxide-induced cell death of liver cancer. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2024; 22:295-302. [PMID: 38599914 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on hepatocellular carcinoma have been documented widely. Autophagy plays dual roles in the survival and death of cancer cells. Therefore, we investigated the exact role of autophagy in As2O3-induced apoptosis in liver cancer cells. METHODS The viability of hepatoma cells was determined using the MTT assay with or without fetal bovine serum. The rate of apoptosis in liver cancer cells treated with As2O3 was evaluated using flow cytometry, Hoechst 33258 staining, and TUNEL assays. The rate of autophagy among liver cancer cells treated with As2O3 was detected using immunofluorescence, Western blot assay and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Upon treatment with As2O3, the viability of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells was decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The apoptosis rates of both liver cancer cell lines increased with the concentration of As2O3, as shown by flow cytometry. Apoptosis in liver cancer cells treated with As2O3 was also shown by the activation of the caspase cascade and the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax expression. Furthermore, As2O3 treatment induced autophagy in liver cancer cells; this finding was supported by Western blot, immunofluorescence of LC3-II and beclin 1, and transmission electron microscopy. In liver cancer cells, As2O3 inhibited the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signal pathway that plays a vital role in both apoptosis and autophagy. The PI3K activator SC-79 partially reversed As2O3-induced autophagy and apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibiting autophagy with 3-methyladenine partially reversed the negative effects of As2O3 on cell viability. Serum starvation increased autophagy and amplified the effect of As2O3 on cell death. CONCLUSION As2O3 induces apoptosis and autophagy in liver cancer cells. Autophagy induced by As2O3 may have a proapoptotic effect that helps to reduce the viability of liver cancer cells. This study provides novel insights into the effects of As2O3 against liver cancer. Please cite this article as: Deng ZT, Liang SF, Huang GK, Wang YQ, Tu XY, Zhang YN, Li S, Liu T, Cheng BB. Autophagy plays a pro-apoptotic role in arsenic trioxide-induced cell death of liver cancer. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(3): 295-302.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Ting Deng
- Department of Respiration, Taizhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu Province, China; Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Febrile Diseases, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shu-Fang Liang
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guo-Kai Huang
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yu-Qian Wang
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Tu
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ya-Ni Zhang
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Febrile Diseases, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Bin-Bin Cheng
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
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Jiang Y, Shen X, Zhi F, Wen Z, Gao Y, Xu J, Yang B, Bai Y. An overview of arsenic trioxide-involved combined treatment algorithms for leukemia: basic concepts and clinical implications. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:266. [PMID: 37500645 PMCID: PMC10374529 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01558-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Arsenic trioxide is a first-line treatment drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is also effective for other kinds of leukemia. Its side effects, however, limit its clinical application, especially for patients with complex leukemia symptoms. Combination therapy can effectively alleviate these problems. This review summarizes the research progress on the combination of arsenic trioxide with anticancer drugs, vitamin and vitamin analogs, plant products, and other kinds of drugs in the treatment of leukemia. Additionally, the new progress in arsenic trioxide-induced cardiotoxicity was summarized. This review aims to provide new insights for the rational clinical application of arsenic trioxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China.
| | - Xiuyun Shen
- Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Fengnan Zhi
- Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhengchao Wen
- Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Juan Xu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Baofeng Yang
- Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China.
- Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU070), Harbin, China.
| | - Yunlong Bai
- Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China.
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Yi J, Gong X, Yin XY, Wang L, Hou JX, Chen J, Xie B, Chen G, Wang LN, Wang XY, Wang DC, Wei HL. Parthenolide and arsenic trioxide co-trigger autophagy-accompanied apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:988528. [PMID: 36353537 PMCID: PMC9638029 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.988528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although arsenic trioxide (ATO) shows a strong anti-tumor effect in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, it does not benefit patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, combination therapy is proposed to enhance the efficacy of ATO. Parthenolide (PTL), a natural compound, selectively eradicates cancer cells and cancer stem cells with no toxicity to normal cells. In this study, we chose PTL and ATO in combination and found that nontoxic dosage of PTL and ATO co-treatment can synergistically inhibit the in vitro and in vivo proliferation activity of HCC cells through suppressing stemness and self-renewal ability and inducing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. More importantly, USP7-HUWE1-p53 pathway is involved in PTL enhancing ATO-induced apoptosis of HCC cell lines. Meanwhile, accompanied by induction of apoptosis, PTL and ATO evoke autophagic activity via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and consciously controlling autophagy can improve the anti-HCC efficacy of a combination of PTL and ATO. In short, our conclusion represents a novel promising approach to the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- *Correspondence: Hu-Lai Wei, ; Juan Yi,
| | - Xia Gong
- Geriatrics Department, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Yin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Li Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jin-Xia Hou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jing Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Bei Xie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Li-Na Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Da-Chun Wang
- Biochemistry Department, LanZhou Ke Bao Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Hu-Lai Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- *Correspondence: Hu-Lai Wei, ; Juan Yi,
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