Inhibiting reactive oxygen species-dependent autophagy enhanced baicalein-induced apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Autophagy modulation has been considered a potential therapeutic strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A previous study confirmed that baicalein might possess significant anti-carcinogenic activity. However, whether baicalein induces autophagy and its role in cell death in OSCC are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer activity and molecular targets of baicalein in OSCC in vitro. In this study, we found that baicalein induced significant apoptosis in OSCC cells Cal27. In addition to showing apoptosis induction, we also demonstrated baicalein-induced autophagic response in Cal27 cells. Moreover, pharmacologically or genetically blocking autophagy enhanced baicalein-induced apoptosis, indicating the cytoprotective role of autophagy in baicalein-treated Cal27 cells. Importantly, we found that baicalein triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in Cal27 cells. Furthermore, N-acetyl-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, abrogated the effects of baicalein on ROS-dependent autophagy. Therefore, we found that baicalein increased autophagy through the promotion of ROS signaling pathways in OSCC. These data also suggest that a strategy of blocking ROS-dependent autophagy to enhance the activity of baicalein warrants further attention for the treatment of OSCC.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
Bo
B
Li
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
Mei
M
Lu
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
Xin-Xiang
XX
Jiang
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
Meng-Xiong
MX
Pan
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
Jun-Wu
JW
Mao
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. chm8284@163.com.
Mei
M
Chen
D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D044950:Flavanones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D044950:Flavanones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C006680:baicalein
Apoptosis; Autophagy; Baicalein; OSCC; Reactive oxygen species