Auriculasin enhances ROS generation to regulate colorectal cancer cell apoptosis, ferroptosis, oxeiptosis, invasion and colony formation.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive system, and Chinese herbal medicine plays an important role in tumor treatment. The in-depth study of auriculasin isolated from Flemingia philippinensis showed that auriculasin promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a concentration-dependent manner; when ROS scavenger NAC was added, the effects of auriculasin in promoting ROS generation and inhibiting cell viability were blocked. Auriculasin induced CRC cell apoptosis, led to mitochondrial shrinkage, and increased the intracellular accumulation of Fe2+ and MDA. When auriculasin and NAC were added simultaneously, the levels of apoptosis, Fe2+ and MDA returned to the control group levels, indicating that auriculasin activated apoptosis and ferroptosis by inducing ROS generation. In addition, auriculasin promoted the expression of Keap1 and AIFM1, but significantly reduced the phosphorylation level of AIFM1, while NAC significantly blocked the regulation of Keap1 and AIFM1 by auriculasin, which indicates that auriculasin can also induce oxeiptosis through ROS. When Z-VAD-FMK, Ferrostatin-1, Keap1 siRNA, PGAM5 siRNA and AIFM1 siRNA were added respectively, the inhibitory effect of auriculasin on cell viability was significantly weakened, indicating that auriculasin inhibits cell viability by inducing apoptosis, ferroptosis and oxeiptosis. Auriculasin also inhibited the invasion and clone forming ability of CRC cells, while NAC blocked the above effects of auriculasin. Therefore, auriculasin can promote CRC cell apoptosis, ferroptosis and oxeiptosis by inducing ROS generation, thereby inhibiting cell viability, invasion and clone formation, indicating that auriculasin has a significant antitumor effect.

MicroRNA-323a-3p Negatively Regulates NEK6 in Colon Adenocarcinoma Cells.

OBJECTIVE: The activity of NEK6 is enhanced in several cancer cells, including colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) cells. However, there are few reports on the microRNA (miRNA/miR) regulation of NEK6. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of miRNAs targeting NEK6 in COAD cells. METHODS: Public data and online analysis sites were used to analyze the expression levels of NEK6 and miR-323a-3p in COAD tissues as well as the relationship between NEK6 or miR-323a-3p levels and survival in patients with COAD and to predict miRNAs targeting NEK6. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to determine the levels of NEK6 and miR-323a-3p in COAD cells. The targeting of NEK6 by miR-323a-3p was verified using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, propidium iodide (PI) staining, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/PI staining, and transwell assay were employed to test the proliferation, apoptosis, migration ability, and invasiveness of COAD cells. RESULTS: In COAD cells, NEK6 was highly expressed, whereas miR-323a-3p was expressed at low levels and negatively regulated NEK6. Upregulating the level of miR-323a-3p impaired the proliferation, migration, and invasion of COAD cells and promoted apoptosis, whereas supplementing NEK6 alleviated the damage of the proliferation, migration, and invasion of COAD cells caused by miR-323a-3p and inhibited miR-323a-3p-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that miR-323a-3p regulates the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of COAD cells by targeting NEK6. CONCLUSION: miR-323a-3p downregulates NEK6 in COAD cells; this provides a novel basis for further understanding the occurrence and development of COAD.

Golgi Phosphoprotein 3 Represents a Novel Tumor Marker for Gastric and Colorectal Cancers.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis is very important for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to detect Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) and evaluate its diagnostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum concentrations of GOLPH3 were detected by ELISA in 136 CRC patients, 102 GC patients, and 50 healthy controls at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from June 2016 to December 2019. Serum concentrations of CEA and CA19-9 were detected by ECLIA. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of GOLPH3, CEA, and CA19-9 were higher in GC and CRC patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Serum GOLPH3 concentrations were increased in GC and CRC patients with tumors greater than 5 cm, poor differentiation, greater depth of tumor invasion, and increased lymphatic and distant metastases (P < 0.05). In the GC and CRC groups, the AUCs of GOLPH3 were higher than those of CEA and CA19-9 (P < 0.05), while the AUCs of the marker combination were higher than those of GOLPH3 (P < 0.05), and postoperative serum GOLPH3 levels were lower than preoperative levels (P < 0.001). Serum GOLPH3 concentrations in CRC patients correlated positively with CEA and CA19-9 concentrations (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum GOLPH3 concentrations in GC and CRC patients are related to TNM stage. GOLPH3 may represent a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of GC and CRC. The combination of serum GOLPH3, CEA, and CA19-9 concentrations can improve diagnostic efficiency for GC and CRC. GOLPH3 is expected to become an indicator for the early diagnosis and evaluation of surgical effects.

Tenacissoside H Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Migration of Colon Cancer Cells by Downregulating Expression of GOLPH3 Gene.

OBJECTIVE: Tenacissoside H (TDH) is a Chinese medicine monomer extracted from Marsdenia tenacissima extract (MTE), which has been confirmed to have antitumor effects, but its mechanism is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of TDH on human colon cancer LoVo cell proliferation and migration and explore the correlation of TDH treatment with the expression of GOLPH3 and cell signaling pathways in LoVo cells. METHODS: LoVo cells were treated with TDH at 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h. The proliferation rate of LoVo cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Recombinant plasmid p-CMV-2-GOLPH3 was constructed, and p-CMV-2-GOLPH3 and p-CMV-2 empty plasmids were transfected into LoVo cells by lipofection. Western blotting was used to detect the transfection efficiency and the expression of p-p70S6K, p70S6K, ß-catenin, and GOLPH3. The apoptosis rate was analyzed with Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining method, and cell migration assessed by transwell assay. RESULTS: TDH inhibited the proliferation of LoVo cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 of TDH treatment in LoVo cells at 24, 48, and 72 h was 40.24, 13.00, and 5.73 µg/mL, respectively. TDH treatment significantly induced apoptosis and suppressed the viability and migration of human colon cancer LoVo cells. The effect of TDH on induction of apoptosis and inhibition of migration in LoVo cells decreased significantly after activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways with agonists. Additionally, the expression of GOLPH3 protein downregulated significantly in LoVo cells under TDH treatment. Overexpression of the GOLPH3 gene increased the expression of key proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways and blocked the antitumor activity of TDH. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the present results indicated that TDH can inhibit the proliferation vitality of colon cancer LoVo cells through downregulating GOLPH3 expression and activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways.

MicroRNA-1276 Promotes Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation by Negatively Regulating LACTB.

PURPOSE: LACTB, regulated by a variety of microRNAs (miRNAs), is proven to be a tumor suppressor. However, there are few reports that LACTB in colon cancer cells is regulated by miRNA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the miRNAs that regulate LACTB in colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from TCGA were analyzed in starBase and GEPIA2, and Western blot and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to detect the expression of LACTB in colon cancer cell lines. MiRNAs targeting LACTB were predicted by MicroT-CDS, starBase, miRDB, mirDIP, and DIANA. The relationship between LACTB and miRNA was explored by dual-luciferase assay. MTT, propidium iodide (PI), Western blot, Annexin V-FITC/PI Kit, qPCR and transwell assay were used to detect the changes in cell proliferation, cell cycle, autophagy, apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration, and invasiveness in colon cancer cells that overexpressed miR-1276 and/or LACTB. RESULTS: The results showed that the LACTB mRNA level was lower and the miR-1276 level was higher in colon cancer than in normal tissue. MiR-1276 inhibited the expression of LACTB. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-1276 in colon cancer cells increased proliferation, migration, invasiveness and EMT, and decreased autophagy and apoptosis. Supplementing LACTB suppressed these effects of miR-1276. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, miR-1276, which may be a potential therapy for colon cancer, inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis by targeting LACTB in colon cancer cells.

Protosappanin B Exerts Anti-tumor Effects on Colon Cancer Cells via Inhibiting GOLPH3 Expression.

Protosappanin B (PSB) is a key active component of Lignum Sappan extract. Although the antiproliferative effects of Lignum Sappan extract have been demonstrated in various cancer cells, relatively little is known about the effects of PSB on tumor progression. The aim of this study was to explore the anti-tumor effects of PSB on human colon cancer cells by regulation of intracellular signaling pathways and Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) expression in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that PSB effectively inhibited the viability and migration of SW620 cells and induced apoptosis, but had poor effect on HCT116 cells. Furthermore, PSB significantly reduced the expression of p-AKT, p-p70S6K, ß-catenin, and p-ERK1/2 proteins in SW620 cells, and this effect was reversed by the corresponding signaling pathway agonists. Interestingly, PSB could also suppress GOLPH3 expression of SW620 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but SW620 cells transfected with lentiviral vectors overexpressing GOLPH3 can effectively resist the cytotoxic activity of PSB in vitro. The xenograft experiment of SW620 cells with LV-GOLPH3 confirmed that PSB distinctly inhibited the tumor growth via suppressing GOLPH3 expression. Collectively, these findings clarified a new anti-cancer mechanism of PSB through inhibition of GOLPH3 expression and intracellular signaling pathways in colon cancer cells. PSB may be a potential new drug for colon cancer.