Title:The Therapeutic Effects of Dihydroartemisinin on Cisplatin-Resistant
Gastric Cancer Cells
Volume: 23
Issue: 2
Author(s): Suyun Zhang, Rui Feng, Fang Yuan, Qiong Luo, Xiangqi Chen*, Nan Li*Sheng Yang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University,
Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R. China
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical
University, Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R.
China
Keywords:
Dihydroartemisinin, cisplatin resistance, gastric cancer cells, apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation.
Abstract: Background: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibited anti-tumor effect in a variety of cancer
cells, but its mechanism of action is unclear.
Objectives: To investigate the therapeutic effects of DHA on Cisplatin (DDP)-resistant gastric cancer
cell strain SGC7901/DDP and the possible molecular mechanism.
Methods: Cells were treated with DHA in a dose- and time-dependent manner, after which their proliferation,
apoptosis, invasion, and migration abilities were evaluated. We further evaluated autophagy
with mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus transfection and transmission electron microscopy and also detected
the expression levels of proteins (related to autophagy and apoptosis) via western blot. Meanwhile, the
influence of DHA on cisplatin resistance was detected through a sensitization test and the evaluation of
P-gp expression levels.
Results: DHA effectively inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SGC7901/DDP cells
and induced cell apoptosis which was accompanied by caspase-8/9/3 activation. Furthermore, exposure
to DHA resulted in a pronounced increase in autophagy proteins, including Beclin-1 and LC3 II with
PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition. Additionally, enhancement of cisplatin sensitivity occurred in
SGC7901/DDP cells treated with DHA, which was accompanied by P-gp downregulation.
Conclusion: DHA exerts an anti-cancer effect on SGC7901/DDP cells and the mechanisms possibly
include enhancement of autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibition, inducement of apoptosis through
caspase-dependent and mitochondrial pathway, and enhancement of cisplatin sensitivity through P-gp
inhibition.