RESUMEN
Withaferin A (WFA), a C5,C6-epoxy steroidal lactone isolated from the medicinal plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, inhibits growth of tumor cells in different cancer types. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of WFA on tumor cells are not fully understood. In the present study, we evaluated the blockade of TASK-3 channels by WFA in TASK-3-expressing HEK-293 cells. Explore if the WFA-mediated TASK-3 blockade can be used as a pharmacological tool to decrease the cell viability in cancer cells. A combination of functional experiments (patch-clamp, gene downregulation, overexpression and pharmacological inhibition) and molecular docking analysis were used to get insights into the mechanism by which the inhibition of TASK-3 by WFA affects the growth and viability of cancer cells. Withaferin A was found to inhibit the activity of TASK-3 channels. The inhibitory effect of Withaferin A on TASK-3 potassium currents was dose-dependent and independent of voltage. Molecular modeling studies identified putative WFA-binding sites in TASK-3 channel involved the channel blockade. In agreements with the molecular modeling predictions, mutation of residues F125 to A (F125A), L197 to V (L197â¯V) and the double mutant F125A-L197â¯V markedly decreased the WFA-induced inhibition of TASK-3. Finally, the cytotoxic effect of WFA was tested in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells transfected with TASK-3 or shRNA that decreases TASK-3 expression. Together, our results show that the cytotoxic effect of WFA on fully transformed MDA-MB-231 cells depends on the expression of TASK-3. Herein, we also provide insights into the mechanism of TASK-3 inhibition by WFA.
Asunto(s)
Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/farmacología , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Potasio/farmacología , Canales de Potasio de Dominio Poro en Tándem/antagonistas & inhibidores , Witanólidos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/metabolismo , Sitios de Unión , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Potenciales de la Membrana , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Potasio/metabolismo , Canales de Potasio de Dominio Poro en Tándem/genética , Canales de Potasio de Dominio Poro en Tándem/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Transducción de Señal , Witanólidos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Incidence and mortality of gastric cancer is increasing worldwide, in part, because of the lack of new therapeutic targets to treat this disease. Different types of ion channels participate in the hallmarks of cancer. In this context, ion channels are known to exert control over the cell cycle, mechanisms that support survival, angiogenesis, migration, and cell invasion. In particular, TASK-3 (KCNK9), a member of the K2P potassium channel family, has attracted much interest because of its oncogenic properties. However, despite multiple lines of evidence linking TASK-3 to tumorigenesis in various types of cancer, its relationship with gastric cancer has not been fully examined. Therefore, we set out to assess the effect of TASK-3 gene knockdown on KATO III and MKN-45 human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines by using a short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown. Our results demonstrate that knocking down TASK-3 reduces cell proliferation and viability because of an increase in apoptosis without an apparent effect on cell cycle checkpoints. In addition, cell migration and invasion are reduced after knocking down TASK-3 in these cell lines. The present study highlights TASK-3 as a key protein involved in migration and cell survival in gastric cancer and corroborates its potential as a therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.
