Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis

Abstract Background Malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to carcinogenesis may be a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-cancer efficacy of Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms by integrating transcr...

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Main Authors: Xiangying Yan, Yudong Liu, Congchong Li, Xia Mao, Tengteng Xu, Zhixing Hu, Chu Zhang, Na Lin, Ya Lin, Yanqiong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-06-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-023-02946-2
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author Xiangying Yan
Yudong Liu
Congchong Li
Xia Mao
Tengteng Xu
Zhixing Hu
Chu Zhang
Na Lin
Ya Lin
Yanqiong Zhang
author_facet Xiangying Yan
Yudong Liu
Congchong Li
Xia Mao
Tengteng Xu
Zhixing Hu
Chu Zhang
Na Lin
Ya Lin
Yanqiong Zhang
author_sort Xiangying Yan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to carcinogenesis may be a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-cancer efficacy of Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms by integrating transcriptional regulatory network analysis and experimental validation. Methods A diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC model in rats was established and used to evaluate the anti-cancer efficacy of PZH. After detecting a transcriptomic profiling, the “disease-related gene–drug effective target” interaction network was constructed, and the candidate targets of PZH against malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to HCC were identified and verified in vitro. Results PZH effectively alleviated the pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, and inhibited tumor formation and growth in DEN-induced HCC rats. Additionally, the administration of PZH reduced the levels of various hepatic function-related serological indicators significantly. Mechanically, a ferroptosis-related SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis might be one of potential targets of PZH against malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to HCC. Especially, high SLC7A11 expression may be associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Experimentally, the administration of PZH markedly increased the trivalent iron and ferrous ion, suppressed the expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins, and reduced the GSH/GSSG ratio in the liver tissues of DEN-induced HCC rats. Conclusions Our data offer an evidence that PZH may effectively improve the hepatic fibrosis microenvironment and prevent the occurrence of HCC through promoting ferroptosis in tumor cells via inhibiting the SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis, implying that PZH may be a potential candidate drug for prevention and treatment of HCC at an early stage.
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spelling doaj.art-b0d4ab78739146fc887c95eccc275a552023-06-11T11:25:47ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672023-06-0123111410.1186/s12935-023-02946-2Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axisXiangying Yan0Yudong Liu1Congchong Li2Xia Mao3Tengteng Xu4Zhixing Hu5Chu Zhang6Na Lin7Ya Lin8Yanqiong Zhang9College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesInstitute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineAbstract Background Malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to carcinogenesis may be a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-cancer efficacy of Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms by integrating transcriptional regulatory network analysis and experimental validation. Methods A diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC model in rats was established and used to evaluate the anti-cancer efficacy of PZH. After detecting a transcriptomic profiling, the “disease-related gene–drug effective target” interaction network was constructed, and the candidate targets of PZH against malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to HCC were identified and verified in vitro. Results PZH effectively alleviated the pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, and inhibited tumor formation and growth in DEN-induced HCC rats. Additionally, the administration of PZH reduced the levels of various hepatic function-related serological indicators significantly. Mechanically, a ferroptosis-related SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis might be one of potential targets of PZH against malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to HCC. Especially, high SLC7A11 expression may be associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Experimentally, the administration of PZH markedly increased the trivalent iron and ferrous ion, suppressed the expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins, and reduced the GSH/GSSG ratio in the liver tissues of DEN-induced HCC rats. Conclusions Our data offer an evidence that PZH may effectively improve the hepatic fibrosis microenvironment and prevent the occurrence of HCC through promoting ferroptosis in tumor cells via inhibiting the SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis, implying that PZH may be a potential candidate drug for prevention and treatment of HCC at an early stage.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-023-02946-2Hepatocellular carcinomaPien-Tze-HuangFerroptosisSolute carrier family 7 member 11GlutathioneGlutathione peroxidase 4
spellingShingle Xiangying Yan
Yudong Liu
Congchong Li
Xia Mao
Tengteng Xu
Zhixing Hu
Chu Zhang
Na Lin
Ya Lin
Yanqiong Zhang
Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis
Cancer Cell International
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Pien-Tze-Huang
Ferroptosis
Solute carrier family 7 member 11
Glutathione
Glutathione peroxidase 4
title Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis
title_full Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis
title_fullStr Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis
title_full_unstemmed Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis
title_short Pien-Tze-Huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis
title_sort pien tze huang prevents hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing ferroptosis via inhibiting slc7a11 gsh gpx4 axis
topic Hepatocellular carcinoma
Pien-Tze-Huang
Ferroptosis
Solute carrier family 7 member 11
Glutathione
Glutathione peroxidase 4
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-023-02946-2
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