醉茄素A通过诱导白色脂肪组织褐变抵御高脂饮食诱导的肥胖

目的 探索醉茄素A对高脂饮食诱导肥胖的抵抗作用及其作用机制。方法 8周龄C57BL/6 J小鼠分为醉茄素A组和对照组,每组10只,高脂饮食（HFD）饲养,分别给予醉茄素A或对照溶剂DMSO腹腔注射,每天测量小鼠体重及摄食量。1周后取材,称量小鼠腹股沟白色脂肪（iWAT）、附睾白色脂肪（eWAT）、腹膜后白色脂肪（rWAT）和肩胛间棕色脂肪（BAT）的重量;取iWAT检测褐变相关因子表达水平;HE染色观察iWAT细胞形态变化。结果 醉茄素A组小鼠的体重和各部位脂肪组织重量均显著低于对照组,摄食量无明显变化;Real-time PCR显示,醉茄素A组小鼠iWAT中褐变相关基因表达水平显著提高;Western blotting结果表明,醉茄素A组小鼠iWAT中解耦联蛋白1（UCP1）和过氧化物酶体增殖体激活受体γ共激活因子1α（PGC1α）表达明显增加;HE染色与免疫荧光结果显示,醉茄素A组小鼠腹股沟白色脂肪细胞呈现典型褐变特征,如脂肪细胞多腔室化。结论 醉茄素A可能通过诱导小鼠白色脂肪组织褐变抵御高脂饮食诱导的肥胖。     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediates withaferin A-induced apoptosis in human renal carcinoma cells

The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) results in cellular stress that initiates a specialized response designated as the unfolded protein response. ER stress has been implicated in a variety of common diseases, such as diabetes, ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. Withaferin A, a major chemical constituent of Withania somnifera, has been reported to inhibit tumor cell growth. We show that withaferin A induced a dose-dependent apoptotic cell death in several types of human cancer cells, as measured by FACS analysis and PARP cleavage. Treatment of Caki cells with withaferin A induced a number of signature ER stress markers, including phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF-2 α), ER stress-specific XBP1 splicing, and up-regulation of glucose-regulated protein (GRP)-78. In addition, withaferin A caused up-regulation of CAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP), suggesting the induction of ER stress. Pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) significantly inhibited withaferin A-mediated ER stress proteins and cell death, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate withaferin A-induced ER stress. Furthermore, CHOP siRNA or inhibition of caspase-4 activity attenuated withaferin A-induced apoptosis. Taken together, the present study provides strong evidence supporting an important role of the ER stress response in mediating withaferin A-induced apoptosis.     

Combination of withaferin A and X-ray irradiation enhances apoptosis in U937 cells

Combined treatment with radiation has improved the outcome in various cancers and many radiosensitizers are used to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of radiotherapy. Withaferin A (Wit A), a natural compound derived from the medicinal plant Withania somnifera, has been reported for its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. In this study, we show that Wit A enhances the ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis in human lymphoma U937 cells. Wit A-enhanced IR-induced apoptosis is associated with the PARP cleavage, caspase-3 activation, as well as specifically down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, suggesting that Wit A may be useful as a potential radiosensitizer. In addition, pretreatment of U937 cells with SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) or SB203589 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) dose-dependently inhibited the proteolytic cleavage of PARP. We provide the evidence here that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Bcl-2 down-regulation and activation of MAPKs pathway are critically involved in the apoptosis induced by Wit A and radiation.     

醉茄素A对非小细胞肺癌A549细胞增殖、凋亡及PI3K／Akt信号通路的影响

目的 探讨醉茄素A（WFA） 对非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）A549细胞增殖、凋亡及PI3K／Akt信号通路的影响。方法 采用0、2.5、5.0、10.0、20.0μmol／L WFA 处理A549细胞,采用四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）比色法检测上述浓度处理24、48、72和96h的细胞增殖抑制率,Hoechst染色和磷酯酰丝氨酸结合蛋白 异硫氢酸荧光素／碘化丙啶双染法（Annexin V-FITC／PI）检测各浓度组48h的细胞凋亡情况,流式细胞仪检测各浓度组48h的细胞周期分布情况,免疫印迹检测各浓度组48h凋亡相关基因（Bcl-2、Bax和Cleaved caspase-3）和PI3K／Akt信号通路重要蛋白Akt及其磷酸化形式p-Akt的蛋白水平。结果 WFA 可抑制细胞增殖,并呈剂量和时间依赖性（P＜0.05）;0、2.5、5.0、10.0、20.0μmol／L WFA作用48h后A549细胞的凋亡指数分别为2.75±0.64、4.61±1.36、9.75±2.78、12.92±3.42和18.68±4.31,组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。除2.5μmol／L外,其余浓度组的早、晚期凋亡率、凋亡促进基因（Bax和Cleaved caspase-3）水平及G0／G1期细胞比例均高于0μmol／L,凋亡抑制基因Bcl-2水平及S期和G2／M期细胞比例均低于0μmol／L（P＜0.05）; 2.5、5.0、10.0、20.0μmol／L的组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。随着浓度升高,p-Akt／Akt值呈降低趋势,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 WFA能够抑制A549细胞的增殖及凋亡,可能通过抑制PI3K／Akt通路激活实现。     

Multi-layer polymeric implants for sustained release of chemopreventives

Poor oral bioavailability limits the use of many chemopreventives in the prevention and treatment of cancer. To overcome this limitation, we report an improvised implant formulation (“coated” implants) using curcumin, individual curcuminoids, withaferin A and oltipraz. This method involves the coating of blank polycaprolactone implants with 20–30 layers of 10–20% polycaprolactone solution in dichloromethane containing 0.5–2% of the test agent. The in vitro release showed that while oltipraz was released with almost zero-order kinetics over 8 weeks, curcumin, individual curcuminoids and withaferin A were released with some initial burst. The in vivo release was determined by grafting implants subcutaneously in A/J mice. When delivered by coated implants, oltipraz significantly diminished lung DNA adducts in mice treated with dibenzo[a,l]pyrene compared with sham treatment (28 ± 7 versus 54 ± 17 adducts/10⁹ nucleotides). Withaferin A also diminished DNA adducts, but it was insignificant. Curcumin and individual curcuminoids were ineffective. Analysis of lung, liver and brain by UPLC-fluorescence showed the presence of the three test curcuminoids indicating effectiveness of the implant delivery system. Further, based on its known antitumor activity in vivo, withaferin A given via the implants significantly inhibited human lung cancer A549 xenograft in athymic nude mice, while it was ineffective when the same total dose was administered i.p. and required over 2-fold higher dose to elicit effectiveness. Together, our data suggest that coated polymeric implants can accommodate heat-labile compounds, can furnish sustained release for long duration, and elicit DNA damage-inhibiting and anti-tumor activities.     

Withaferin A inhibits breast cancer invasion and metastasis at sub-cytotoxic doses by inducing vimentin disassembly and serine 56 phosphorylation

Withaferin A (WFA) is purified from the plant Withania somnifera and inhibits the vimentin cytoskeleton. Vimentin overexpression in cancer correlates with metastatic disease, induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and reduced patient survival. As vimentin functions in cell motility, we wanted to test the hypothesis that WFA inhibits cancer metastasis by disrupting vimentin function. These data showed that WFA had weak cytotoxic and apoptotic activity at concentrations less than or equal to 500 nM, but retained potent anti-invasive activity at these low doses. Imaging of breast cancer cell lines revealed that WFA induces perinuclear vimentin accumulation followed by rapid vimentin depolymerization. A concomitant induction of vimentin ser56 phosphorylation was observed, which is consistent with vimentin disassembly. Structure activity relationships were established using a set of chemically modified WFA analogs and showed that the predicted vimentin-binding region of WFA is necessary to induce vimentin ser56 phosphorylation and for its anti-invasive activity. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice revealed that WFA reaches peak concentrations up to 2 μM in plasma with a half-life of 1.36 hr following a single 4 mg/kg dose. In a breast cancer metastasis mouse model, WFA showed dose-dependent inhibition of metastatic lung nodules and induced vimentin ser56 phosphorylation, with minimal toxicity to lung tissue. Based upon these studies, we conclude that WFA is a potent breast cancer anti-metastatic agent and the anti-metastatic activity of WFA is, at least in part, mediated through its effects on vimentin and vimentin ser56 phosphorylation.     

Withaferin A targets heat shock protein 90 in pancreatic cancer cells

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and the mechanism of Hsp90 inhibition of Withaferin A (WA), a steroidal lactone occurring in Withania somnifera, in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Withaferin A exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against pancreatic cancer cells in vitro (with IC₅₀s of 1.24, 2.93 and 2.78 μM) in pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1, MiaPaCa2 and BxPc3, respectively. Annexin V staining showed that WA induced significant apoptosis in Panc-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Western blotting demonstrated that WA inhibited Hsp90 chaperone activity to induce degradation of Hsp90 client proteins (Akt, Cdk4 and glucocorticoid receptor), which was reversed by the proteasomal inhibitor, MG132. WA-biotin pull down assay of Hsp90 using Panc-1 cancer cell lysates and purified Hsp90 showed that WA-biotin binds to C-terminus of Hsp90 which was competitively blocked by unlabeled WA. Co-immunoprecipitation exhibited that WA (10 μM) disrupted Hsp90-Cdc37 complexes from 1 to 24 h post-treatment, while it neither blocked ATP binding to Hsp90, nor changed Hsp90-P23 association. WA (3, 6 mg/kg) inhibited tumor growth in pancreatic Panc-1 xenografts by 30% and 58%, respectively. These data demonstrate that Withaferin A binds Hsp90, inhibits Hsp90 chaperone activity through an ATP-independent mechanism, results in Hsp90 client protein degradation, and exhibits in vivo anticancer activity against pancreatic cancer.     

Lipopolysaccharides-stimulated macrophage products enhance Withaferin A-induced apoptosis via activation of caspases and inhibition of NF-κB pathway in human cancer cells

Macrophages, as a major cellular component in tumor microenvironment, play an important role in tumor progression. However, their roles in modulation of cytotoxic chemotherapy are still not fully understood. Here, we investigated the influence of Lipoplysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated macrophage products (LSMP) on Withaferin A (WA), a natural compound that derived from the medicinal plant Withania somnifera, as an antitumor agent in human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and prostate cancer cells PC-3. Our results revealed that LSMP may enhance WA-induced apoptosis in both cell lines, the underlying mechanisms of which are closely associated with activation of caspase-8, −9 and −3, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), as well as specifically inhibiting the translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (cIAP1/2). These findings demonstrate that macrophages in tumor microenvironment can modulate tumor responses to chemotoxic agents, providing an effective strategy that targets macrophages to enhance the antitumor efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapy.     

Withaferin A modulates the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint by degradation of Mad2–Cdc20 complex in colorectal cancer cell lines

Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Ashwagandha) is used over centuries in the ayurvedic medicines in India. Withaferin A, a withanolide, is the major compound present in leaf extract of the plant which shows anticancer activity against leukemia, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. It arrests the ovarian cancer cells in the G2/M phase in dose dependent manner. In the current study we show the effect of Withaferin A on cell cycle regulation of colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and SW480 and its effect on cell fate. Treatment of these cells with this compound leads to apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. It causes the G2/M arrest in both the cell lines. We show that Withaferin A (WA) causes mitotic delay by blocking Spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) function. Apoptosis induced by Withaferin A is associated with proteasomal degradation of Mad2 and Cdc20, an important constituent of the Spindle Checkpoint Complex. Further overexpression of Mad2 partially rescues the deleterious effect of WA by restoring proper anaphase initiation and keeping more number of cells viable. We hypothesize that Withaferin A kills cancer cells by delaying the mitotic exit followed by inducing chromosome instability.     

LC-MS/MS测定比格犬血浆中的醉茄素A及其生物利用度研究

醉茄素A(WA)是植物南非醉茄中的主要生物活性成分,具有抗肿瘤和抗肥胖等药理作用。虽然南非醉茄提取物的口服保健产品已上市多年,但WA的口服生物利用度仍不清楚。本研究首先建立灵敏、高效的WA血浆样品LC-MS/MS分析方法,然后在比格犬分别进行静脉注射和口服灌胃WA的两周期药代动力学实验。实验结果表明,WA在比格犬的口服生物利用度较高(42.2%±6.4%),吸收快,而且具有较长的半衰期[(18±4.6)h]和较大的表观分布容积[(67.5±8.9) L/kg],有利于药物长时间在体内发挥药效。因此,WA总体上具有良好的药代动力学性质,可作为口服候选药物,进一步评估成药性和进行临床前开发,为临床应用提供依据。