Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.

The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been attributed to a high frequency of tumor metastasis and recurrence even after successful surgical resection. With less than 30% of patients benefiting from curative treatment, alternative treatment regimens for patients with advanced HCC a...

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Main Authors: Po-Li Wei, Chien-Yu Huang, Yu-Jia Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2019-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210513
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author Po-Li Wei
Chien-Yu Huang
Yu-Jia Chang
author_facet Po-Li Wei
Chien-Yu Huang
Yu-Jia Chang
author_sort Po-Li Wei
collection DOAJ
description The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been attributed to a high frequency of tumor metastasis and recurrence even after successful surgical resection. With less than 30% of patients benefiting from curative treatment, alternative treatment regimens for patients with advanced HCC are needed. Propyl gallate (PG), a synthetic antioxidant used in preserving food and medicinal preparations, has been shown to induce cancer cell death, but the anticancer effects of PG in HCC are unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that PG inhibited HCC cell proliferation in vitro and in zebrafish models in vivo in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PG also induced cell apoptosis and increased the number of necrotic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner as determined using a high-content analysis system. We found that PG also increased the intracellular levels of superoxide and reactive oxidative stress as well as the formation of autophagosomes and lysosomes. Regarding the molecular mechanism, PG did not alter the levels of autophagy-related 5 (ATG5), ATG5/12 or Beclin-1 but increased the rate of the LC3-I to LC3-II conversion, suggesting autophagy induction. PG exposure increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bax, and Bad and a decreased level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PG inhibits HCC cell proliferation through enhanced ROS production and autophagy activation. Finally, PG-treated cells induced cell apoptosis and may be a new candidate for HCC therapy.
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spelling doaj.art-ab2fd4b149d240acbab1b51d247f14032022-12-21T19:15:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-01141e021051310.1371/journal.pone.0210513Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.Po-Li WeiChien-Yu HuangYu-Jia ChangThe poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been attributed to a high frequency of tumor metastasis and recurrence even after successful surgical resection. With less than 30% of patients benefiting from curative treatment, alternative treatment regimens for patients with advanced HCC are needed. Propyl gallate (PG), a synthetic antioxidant used in preserving food and medicinal preparations, has been shown to induce cancer cell death, but the anticancer effects of PG in HCC are unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that PG inhibited HCC cell proliferation in vitro and in zebrafish models in vivo in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PG also induced cell apoptosis and increased the number of necrotic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner as determined using a high-content analysis system. We found that PG also increased the intracellular levels of superoxide and reactive oxidative stress as well as the formation of autophagosomes and lysosomes. Regarding the molecular mechanism, PG did not alter the levels of autophagy-related 5 (ATG5), ATG5/12 or Beclin-1 but increased the rate of the LC3-I to LC3-II conversion, suggesting autophagy induction. PG exposure increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bax, and Bad and a decreased level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PG inhibits HCC cell proliferation through enhanced ROS production and autophagy activation. Finally, PG-treated cells induced cell apoptosis and may be a new candidate for HCC therapy.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210513
spellingShingle Po-Li Wei
Chien-Yu Huang
Yu-Jia Chang
Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.
PLoS ONE
title Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.
title_full Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.
title_fullStr Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.
title_full_unstemmed Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.
title_short Propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ROS and the activation of autophagy.
title_sort propyl gallate inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through the induction of ros and the activation of autophagy
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210513
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AT chienyuhuang propylgallateinhibitshepatocellularcarcinomacellgrowththroughtheinductionofrosandtheactivationofautophagy
AT yujiachang propylgallateinhibitshepatocellularcarcinomacellgrowththroughtheinductionofrosandtheactivationofautophagy