Title:Isovitexin Inhibits Stemness and Induces Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma SK-Hep-1 Spheroids by Upregulating miR-34a Expression
Volume: 20
Issue: 14
Author(s): Chang Xu, Xiaocheng Cao, XiaoZheng Cao, Lihua Liu, Yebei Qiu, Xiang Li, Lingli Zhou, Yingxia Ning, Kaiqun Ren*Jianguo Cao*
Affiliation:
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013,China
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013,China
Keywords:
Hepatocellular carcinoma, cancer stem cell, isovitexin, miR-34a, apoptosis, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax.
Abstract:
Background: We previously demonstrated that isovitexin (apigenin-6-C-glucoside, ISOV) suppressed
the stemness of human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the mechanism of its action
remains to be deciphered.
Objective: The current study was to examine whether ISOV regulates the miR-34a expression and hence suppresses
the stemness of HCC SK-Hep-1 cells.
Methods: After identification of the stemness, apoptosis resistance and decreased miR-34a expression of
spheres from SK-Hep-1 cells (SK-SC), we utilized transfection of a miR-34a mimic or inhibitor to investigate
the effects of ISOV on miR-34a, Bcl-2, Bax and Mcl-1 expression in order to understand the mechanism underlying
ISOV-mediated repression of stemness and promotion of apoptosis.
Results: Our results demonstrated that SK-SC displayed higher stemness and resistance to apoptosis, as well as
reduced miR-34a levels compared to SK-Hep-1 cells. ISOV suppressed sphere and colony formation, and decreased
CD44+ cell populations. In addition, ABCG2, ALDH1, and NANOG mRNA levels were decreased, while
there was a concomitant increase in miR-34a levels. With regards to apoptosis-related proteins, ISOV increased
Bax protein levels, and reduced Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 protein levels in SK-SC. Importantly, there was a cooperative
effect when miR-34a was overexpressed in the presence of ISOV in SK-SC, and down-regulation of miR-34a
attenuated the effects of ISOV in SK-Hep-1 cells.
Conclusion: We suggest that ISOV-mediated miR-34a upregulation induces apoptosis and suppresses the
stemness of SK-SC. Our data indicate that ISOV exhibits therapeutic potential for the treatment of HCC.