Pseudolaric acid B, a novel microtubule-destabilizing agent that circumvents multidrug resistance phenotype and exhibits antitumor activity in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) is the major bioactive constituent in the root bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi that has been used as an antifungal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies showed that PAB exhibited substantial cytotoxicity. The aims of this study were to elucidate the molecular target of PAB, to examine its mechanism of action, and to evaluate the efficacy of this compound in vivo.


METHODS
The effect of PAB on cell growth inhibition toward a panel of cancer cell lines was assayed. Cell cycle analysis, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and apoptosis analysis were carried out to examine the mechanism of action. Tubulin polymerization assays were conducted to examine the interaction between PAB and tubulin. A P-glycoprotein-overexpressing cell line was used to evaluate the efficacy of PAB toward multidrug-resistant phenotypes. In vivo efficacy of PAB was evaluated by the murine xenograft model.


RESULTS
PAB induces cell cycle arrest at G2-M transition, leading to apoptosis. The drug disrupts cellular microtubule networks and inhibits the formation of mitotic spindles. Polymerization of purified bovine brain tubulin was dose-dependently inhibited by PAB. Furthermore, PAB circumvents the multidrug resistance mechanism, displaying notable potency also in P-glycoprotein-overexpressing cells. Finally, we showed that PAB is effective in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified the microtubules as the molecular target of PAB. Furthermore, we showed that PAB circumvents P-glycoprotein overexpression-induced drug resistance and is effective in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Our work will facilitate the future development of PAB as a cancer therapeutic.
Wong
Vincent K W
VK
Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, China.
Chiu
Pauline
P
Chung
Stephen S M
SS
Chow
Larry M C
LM
Zhao
Yun-Zhe
YZ
Yang
Burton B
BB
Ko
Ben C B
BC
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000187:drug effects*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / Q000379:methods*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004224:Diterpenes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014404:Tubulin; C058391:pseudolaric acid B; D003078:Colchicine