title: Vitexin 6, a novel lignan, induces autophagy and apoptosis by activating the Jun N-terminal kinase pathway.
abstract: Previous studies have reported that vitexins induce cytotoxic effects. In the present study, we investigate a new native lignan vitexin 6 (VB6) in vitro to determine the molecular mechanism underlying its cytotoxicity. We screened and cultured several tumor cell lines and subsequently analyzed VB6 cytotoxicity against 14 different tumor cell lines using a 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The expression of proteins that regulate apoptosis and autophagy was determined using western blot analysis. VB6 showed an excellent cytotoxic effect against various cancer cell lines in vitro. It induced apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells. VB6-induced apoptosis showed a time-dependent and concentration-dependent relationship with cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, cleaved caspase-3, Bax upregulation, and Bcl-2 downregulation. The levels of Beclin-1 and LC3-II, which are markers for cell autophagy, gradually increased after VB6 treatment. Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation was increased after VB6 treatment, accompanied by upregulation of P-Bcl-2 and P-C-Jun expression. Cotreatment with a JNK inhibitor significantly decreased VB6-induced cell death and downregulated P-Bcl-2, and cleaved PARP and Beclin-1 expression. The new native lignan VB6 inhibits cancer cell proliferation by activating the JNK pathway. We believe that VB6 could be a valuable chemotherapeutic drug after further evaluation.
authors: Department of Surgery, Women's Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Huiyong
authors: H
authors: Hu
authors: Jingpei
authors: J
authors: Long
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Wan
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Suzhan
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Yuenian E
authors: YE
authors: Shi
authors: Yiding
authors: Y
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047310:Apigenin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D017705:Lignans / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D020950:Vitex / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017705:Lignans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C587058:vitexin 6; D047310:Apigenin; C032731:vitexin; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases