title: Evaluation of antitumor activity of Artemisia capillaris extract against hepatocellular carcinoma through the inhibition of IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis.
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway plays critical roles in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Artemisia capillaris (AC) has been widely used to treat various liver diseases including HCC as a herbal medicine. The effects of AC on IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis in HCC cells and subsequent anticancer activity of AC against HCC were analyzed using HCC cell lines and HBV W4P-LHB-expressing NIH3T3 cell line, which has been shown to gain tumorigenicity by activating IL-6/STAT3 signaling in our previous study. AC extract significantly suppressed the growth and colony formation of HCC cells. In addition, it inhibited the activation of STAT3 by IL-6 and subsequent synthesis of downstream molecules in HCC and W4P-NIH3T3 cells. Consequently, migration of cells was significantly suppressed by the AC extract. Collectively, the findings suggest that AC extract is capable of conferring various antitumor effects against HCC through the modulation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. The results provide a basis for the therapeutic use of AC in the treatment of HCC. Identification of the compound responsible for the effect may lead to the development of a novel anticancer agent against HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eungyeong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Na-Rae
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chae-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Da-Rong
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Βiomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, and Liver Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bum-Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jang-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Inn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human