Dimethyl fumarate induces necroptosis in colon cancer cells through GSH depletion/ROS increase/MAPKs activation pathway

Background and Purpose

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a newly approved drug for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Here, we investigated the effects of DMF and its metabolites mono-methylfumarate (MMF and methanol) on different gastrointestinal cancer cell lines and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved.

Experimental Approach

Cell viability was measured by the MTT or CCK8 assay. Protein expressions were measured by Western blot analysis. LDH release, live- and dead-cell staining, intracellular GSH levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential were examined by using commercial kits.

Key Results

DMF but not MMF induced cell necroptosis, as demonstrated by the pharmacological tool necrostatin-1, transmission electron microscopy, LDH and HMGB1 release in CT26 cells. The DMF-induced decrease in cellular GSH levels as well as cell viability and increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) were inhibited by co-treatment with GSH and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in CT26 cells. DMF activated JNK, p38 and ERK MAPKs in CT26 cells and JNK, p38 and ERK inhibitors partially reversed the DMF-induced decrease in cell viability. GSH or NAC treatment inhibited DMF-induced JNK, p38, and ERK activation in CT26 cells. DMF but not MMF increased autophagy responses in SGC-7901, HCT116, HT29 and CT26 cancer cells, but autophagy inhibition did not prevent the DMF-induced decrease in cell viability.

Conclusion and Implications

DMF but not its metabolite MMF induced necroptosis in colon cancer cells through a mechanism involving the depletion of GSH, an increase in ROS and activation of MAPKs.