title: [Progress on anti-tumor molecular mechanisms of dihydroartemisinin].
abstract: Artemisinin is an anti-malarial drug with poor water solubility and oral absorption; so a variety of derivatives based on the parent nucleus have been developed. Compared with artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has a stronger anti-malaria activity, and has the advantages of high metabolic rate and better water solubility. Recent studies have discovered that DHA has a good inhibitory effect on tumor cells, which is closely related to the peroxide bridge in its molecular structure. Since tumor cells need more Fe3+than normal cells, there are a large number of transferrin receptors on the tumor cell membrane. DHA can break the peroxide bridge in the presence of Fe2+, and the free radicals generated can play its lethal effect on tumor cells. In addition, DHA can promote endocytosis of transferrin receptor, and thus prevent cancer cells from taking Fe3+from microenvironment. This article reviews the anti-tumor molecular mechanism of DHA, including accelerating oxidative damage, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting the growth, proliferation and invasion of tumor cells, reversing tumor multidrug resistance.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northeast Forest University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northeast Forest University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Dongjin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northeast Forest University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northeast Forest University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Ziwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northeast Forest University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northeast Forest University, Harbin 150040, China. xyli821187@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; C068126:CD71 antigen; D005609:Free Radicals; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; C039060:artenimol; D007501:Iron