Evodiamine inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the Hippo-Yes-Associated Protein signaling pathway

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2020Source: Life SciencesAuthor(s): Shuang Zhao, Ke Xu, Rong Jiang, Dan-Yang Li, Xing-Xian Guo, Peng Zhou, Jia-Feng Tang, Li-Sha Li, Di Zeng, Ling Hu, Jian-Hua Ran, Jing Li, Di-Long ChenAbstractAimsDysfunction of the Hippo-Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) signaling pathway is known to be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Evodiamine (Evo), a plant-derived bioactive alkaloid, exerts inhibitory effects on cancer. However, the precise influence of Evo on HCC and its potential effects on Hippo-YAP signaling have yet to be ascertained. Here, the effects of Evo on cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated using HCC cell lines (HepG2 and Bel-7402) and nude mice with xenograft tumors. We further investigated whether Evo exerts anti-HCC activity through effects on Hippo-YAP signaling in vitro with the aid of XMU-MP-1, an inhibitor of the key component of this pathway, mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1/2.Main methodsCell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine staining, colony formation, flow cytometry, hematoxylin-eosin and dUTP nick-end labeling experiments. Bioinformatics and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) arrays were performed to determine the associations among Evo, HCC progression and the Hippo-YAP pathway. The expression patterns of components of Hippo-YAP signaling and apoptotic genes were further examined via RT-qPCR and immunoblotting.Key findingsEvo ...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research