β-Elemene suppresses tumor growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through regulating lncRNA HULC-mediated apoptotic pathway.

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is considered the most common aggressive subtype of lymphoma. A number of DLBCL patients fail to achieve a response to currently available therapies or develop resistance. β-Elemene is derived from herb Curcuma wenyujin, and exhibits anti-tumor activity in both solid and non-solid tumors through modulating several molecular signaling pathways. We aimed to explore the role of β-elemene in DLBCL treatment and elucidate the involved mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell viability, apoptosis and expressions of related proteins were assessed and in vivo study were performed to determine the tumor suppressive effect of β-elemene and explore the molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

β-Elemene significantly suppressed the viability of DLBCL cells, and β-elemene down-regulated the lncRNA HULC expression and regulated key pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins to induce significant apoptosis of DLBCL cells. HULC overexpression could decrease the β-elemene induced apoptosis, while HULC knockdown increased the apoptosis in DLBCL cells. In vivo study further confirmed that β-elemene could suppress the growth of DLBCL xenograft and regulate the HULC expression and the critical proteins of the apoptotic pathway.

CONCLUSION

β-Elemene performs as a tumor suppressor and modulator of HULC-mediated apoptotic pathway in DLBCL and will be an alternative candidate for clinical application.