title: Molecular switch role of Akt in Polygonatum odoratum lectin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells.
abstract: Polygonatum odoratum lectin (POL), isolated from traditional Chinese medicine herb (Mill.) Druce, has drawn rising attention due to its wide biological activities. In the present study, anti-tumor effects, including apoptosis- and autophagy-inducing properties of POL, were determined by a series of cell biology methods such as MTT, cellular morphology observation, flow cytometry, immunoblotting. Herein, we found that POL could simultaneously induce apoptosis and autophagy in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. POL initiated apoptosis through inhibiting Akt-NF-κB pathway, while POL triggered autophagy via suppressing Akt-mTOR pathway, suggesting the molecular switch role of Akt in regulating between POL-induced apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, ROS was involved in POL-induced inhibition of Akt expression, and might therefore mediate both apoptosis and autophagy in A549 cells. In addition, POL displayed no significant cytotoxicity toward normal human embryonic lung fibroblast HELF cells. Due to the anti-tumor activities, POL might become a potent anti-cancer drug in future therapy, which might pave the way for exploring GNA-related lectins into effective drugs in cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Chunyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Bangmin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hailian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Kailiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jinku
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China; Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000633:toxicity; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D031384:Polygonatum / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D037102:Lectins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D008358:Mannose