1. Academic Validation
  2. Furowanin A-induced autophagy alleviates apoptosis and promotes cell cycle arrest via inactivation STAT3/Mcl-1 axis in colorectal cancer

Furowanin A-induced autophagy alleviates apoptosis and promotes cell cycle arrest via inactivation STAT3/Mcl-1 axis in colorectal cancer

  • Life Sci. 2019 Feb 1;218:47-57. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.12.027.
Zhao Ma 1 Xuebin Bao 2 Junbao Gu 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, The People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (People's Hospital of Henan Province), Zhengzhou, China.
  • 2 Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, The People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (People's Hospital of Henan Province), Zhengzhou, China. Electronic address: xuebinbaozz@126.com.
Abstract

Aim Furowanin A (Fur A) is a flavonoid isolated from Millettia pachycarpa Benth. Studies show its potent anti-neoplastic effects against leukemia cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential therapeutic effect of Fur A against colorectal Cancer (CRC), and elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Material and methods: Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine cell, and TUNEL and Annexin-V/PI staining was used to detect Apoptosis and the cell cycle distribution. The expression levels of specific proteins in the CRC cells were analyzed by Western blotting. A xenograft model was also established to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Fur A in vivo.

Key findings: Fur A suppressed proliferation, blocked cell cycle progression, induced Apoptosis and promoted Autophagy in CRC cells. Interestingly, Fur A-induced Autophagy functioned not only as a survival mechanism against Apoptosis but also intensified the cell cycle arrest in CRC cells. In addition, Fur A mediated its effects via the inactivation of the STAT3/Mcl-1 axis.

Significance: Fur A is a promising drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of CRC.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell cycle arrest; Colorectal cancer; Furowanin A; STAT3.

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