Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which cepharanthine (CEP) sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy. Methods The triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were treated with CEP (2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 μmol/L) alone, DOX (0.2,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: ZHANG Yanhao, HU Jinjiao, GAO Ning
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Office of Journal of Third Military Medical University 2019-11-01
Series:Di-san junyi daxue xuebao
Subjects:
Online Access:http://aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/Upload/rhtml/201905138.htm
_version_ 1818790973907402752
author ZHANG Yanhao
HU Jinjiao
GAO Ning
author_facet ZHANG Yanhao
HU Jinjiao
GAO Ning
author_sort ZHANG Yanhao
collection DOAJ
description Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which cepharanthine (CEP) sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy. Methods The triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were treated with CEP (2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 μmol/L) alone, DOX (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.0 μmol/L) alone, or the combination of CEP (4 μmol/L) and DOX (0.5 μmol/L). MTT assay was used to test the cell viability after the treatments, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell apoptosis and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of PARP-1, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome C in the cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of MDA-MB-231 cells in response to the treatments; the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells was detected using JC-1 probe, and the mitochondrial morphology and mitophagosomes were observed with confocal laser scanning microscopy and TEM. Results Compared with CEP or DOX treatment alone, the combined treatment with CEP and DOX significantly suppressed the proliferation of both MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells (P < 0.01) with an obvious synergistic effect(synergy coefficient < 1). The combined treatment induced obvious apoptosis in the 2 cell lines (P < 0.01) and caused the degradation of PARP-1, activation of caspase-3, and the release of cytochrome C. The combined treatment also resulted in significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, accumulation of mitophagosomes, and a massive production of ROS in MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.01). Conclusion CEP can sensitize triple-negative breast cancer cells to DOX chemotherapy probably by inducing the accumulation of mitophagosomes and increasing ROS production to cause mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis.
first_indexed 2024-12-18T15:03:58Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0e7f08630da3488d8fc418e493e883bc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1000-5404
language zho
last_indexed 2024-12-18T15:03:58Z
publishDate 2019-11-01
publisher Editorial Office of Journal of Third Military Medical University
record_format Article
series Di-san junyi daxue xuebao
spelling doaj.art-0e7f08630da3488d8fc418e493e883bc2022-12-21T21:03:50ZzhoEditorial Office of Journal of Third Military Medical UniversityDi-san junyi daxue xuebao1000-54042019-11-0141222229223710.16016/j.1000-5404.201905138Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferationZHANG Yanhao0HU Jinjiao1GAO Ning2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, ChinaObjective To explore the molecular mechanism by which cepharanthine (CEP) sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy. Methods The triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were treated with CEP (2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 μmol/L) alone, DOX (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.0 μmol/L) alone, or the combination of CEP (4 μmol/L) and DOX (0.5 μmol/L). MTT assay was used to test the cell viability after the treatments, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell apoptosis and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of PARP-1, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome C in the cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of MDA-MB-231 cells in response to the treatments; the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells was detected using JC-1 probe, and the mitochondrial morphology and mitophagosomes were observed with confocal laser scanning microscopy and TEM. Results Compared with CEP or DOX treatment alone, the combined treatment with CEP and DOX significantly suppressed the proliferation of both MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells (P < 0.01) with an obvious synergistic effect(synergy coefficient < 1). The combined treatment induced obvious apoptosis in the 2 cell lines (P < 0.01) and caused the degradation of PARP-1, activation of caspase-3, and the release of cytochrome C. The combined treatment also resulted in significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, accumulation of mitophagosomes, and a massive production of ROS in MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.01). Conclusion CEP can sensitize triple-negative breast cancer cells to DOX chemotherapy probably by inducing the accumulation of mitophagosomes and increasing ROS production to cause mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis.http://aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/Upload/rhtml/201905138.htmcepharanthinedoxorubicintriple-negative breast cancermitophagyoxidative stresscell proliferationapoptosis
spellingShingle ZHANG Yanhao
HU Jinjiao
GAO Ning
Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
Di-san junyi daxue xuebao
cepharanthine
doxorubicin
triple-negative breast cancer
mitophagy
oxidative stress
cell proliferation
apoptosis
title Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
title_full Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
title_fullStr Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
title_full_unstemmed Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
title_short Cepharanthine sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
title_sort cepharanthine sensitizes triple negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin and inhibits cell proliferation
topic cepharanthine
doxorubicin
triple-negative breast cancer
mitophagy
oxidative stress
cell proliferation
apoptosis
url http://aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/Upload/rhtml/201905138.htm
work_keys_str_mv AT zhangyanhao cepharanthinesensitizestriplenegativebreastcancercellstodoxorubicinandinhibitscellproliferation
AT hujinjiao cepharanthinesensitizestriplenegativebreastcancercellstodoxorubicinandinhibitscellproliferation
AT gaoning cepharanthinesensitizestriplenegativebreastcancercellstodoxorubicinandinhibitscellproliferation