Imperatorin suppresses proliferation and angiogenesis of human colon cancer cell by targeting HIF-1α via the mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 and MAPK pathways.
BACKGROUND
Angelica dahurica is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine to treat migraine headache, toothache and cancer. Imperatorin is an active natural furocoumarin component originating from Angelica dahurica and has been shown to exhibit multiple bioeffector functions, including anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which imperatorin inhibits tumor growth is not fully understood.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of imperatorin as a treatment of cancer and to identify the underlying mechanisms of its anticancer activity.


METHODS
HCT116, HeLa, and Hep3B cells were used in this study. Major assays were promoter-reporter gene assay, MTT, western blot analysis, immunofluorescence assay, reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), flow cytometric analysis, clonogenic assay, EdU labeling and immunofluorescence, xenografted assay, and VEGF ELISA.


RESULTS
We here demonstrated the effect of imperatorin on hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activation. Imperatorin showed a potent inhibitory activity against HIF-1 activation induced by hypoxia in various human cancer cell lines. This compound markedly decreased the hypoxia-induced accumulation of HIF-1α protein dose-dependently, whereas it did not affect the expressions of HIF-1β and topoisomerase-I (Topo-I). Further analysis revealed that imperatorin inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis, without affecting the expression level of HIF-1α mRNA or degradation of HIF-1α protein. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), eIF4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2), SAPK/JNK and p38 were significantly suppressed by imperatorin. Furthermore, imperatorin prevented hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1 target genes and flow cytometric analysis indicated that imperatorin induced G1 phase arrest in human colon cancer cell (HCT116). We found that imperatorin administration inhibits tumor growth and blocks tumor angiogenesis in a xenograft tumor model.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that imperatorin inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis by downregulating the mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 and MAPK pathways. These conclusions suggest that imperatorin is an effective inhibitor of HIF-1 and provide new perspectives into the mechanism of its anticancer activity.
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Chunliu
C
Mi
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Juan
J
Ma
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Ke Si
KS
Wang
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Hong Xiang
HX
Zuo
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Zhe
Z
Wang
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Ming Yue
MY
Li
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Lian Xun
LX
Piao
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Guang Hua
GH
Xu
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China.
Xuezheng
X
Li
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China. Electronic address: zsquan@ybu.edu.cn.
Zhe Shan
ZS
Quan
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain & Functional Molecules, Ministry of education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, Jilin Province, China. Electronic address: xjjin@ybu.edu.cn.
Xuejun
X
Jin
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism; D029969:Angelica / Q000737:chemistry*; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000378:metabolism; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C087000:EIF4EBP1 protein, human; D011564:Furocoumarins; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; C031534:imperatorin
Antitumor; HIF-1α; Imperatorin; Translation