Wan Jingjing, Zhou Juan, Fu Lu, Li Yubin, Zeng Huawu, Xu Xike, Lv Chao, Jin Huizi
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Front Pharmacol. 2021 Aug 24;12:726015. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.726015. eCollection 2021.
Experimental and clinical evidence has indicated that the natural product ascorbic acid (AA) is effective in preventing and treating various types of cancers. However, the effect of AA on liver cancer metastasis has not yet been reported. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play pivotal roles in cancer metastasis. Here, we demonstrated that AA selectively inhibited the viability of both liver cancer cells and CSCs, reduced the formation of cancer cell colonies and CSC spheres, and inhibited tumor growth . Additionally, AA prevented liver cancer metastasis in a xenotransplantation model without suppressing stemness gene expression in liver CSCs. Further study indicated that AA increased the concentration of HO and induced apoptosis in liver CSCs. Catalase attenuated the inhibitory effects of AA on liver CSC viability. In conclusion, AA inhibited the viability of liver CSCs and the growth and metastasis of liver cancer cells and by increasing the production of HO and inducing apoptosis. Our findings provide evidence that AA exerts its anti-liver cancer efficacy and , in a manner that is independent of stemness gene regulation.
实验和临床证据表明,天然产物抗坏血酸(AA)在预防和治疗各类癌症方面具有疗效。然而,AA对肝癌转移的影响尚未见报道。癌症干细胞(CSCs)在癌症转移中起关键作用。在此,我们证明AA能选择性抑制肝癌细胞和CSCs的活力,减少癌细胞集落和CSC球状体的形成,并抑制肿瘤生长。此外,AA在异种移植模型中可预防肝癌转移,且不抑制肝CSCs中的干性基因表达。进一步研究表明,AA可增加HO的浓度并诱导肝CSCs凋亡。过氧化氢酶可减弱AA对肝CSC活力的抑制作用。总之,AA通过增加HO的产生并诱导凋亡,抑制了肝CSCs的活力以及肝癌细胞的生长和转移。我们的研究结果提供了证据,表明AA以一种独立于干性基因调控的方式发挥其抗肝癌功效。