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Abstract Title:

Anticancer activities of harmine by inducing a pro-death autophagy and apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells.

Abstract Source:

Phytomedicine. 2017 May 15 ;28:10-18. Epub 2017 Feb 28. PMID: 28478808

Abstract Author(s):

Chuan Li, Yihai Wang, Chunhua Wang, Xiaomin Yi, Mingya Li, Xiangjiu He

Article Affiliation:

Chuan Li

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Harmine, aβ-carboline alkaloid from Peganum harmala, has multiple anti-tumor activities, especially for its folk therapy for digestive system neoplasm. However, the underlying mechanism of harmine on gastric cancer remains unclear.

PURPOSE: To illuminate the potential anti-tumor activity and mechanism of harmine against gastric cancer cells.

METHODS/STUDY DESIGNS: The anti-proliferative activity of harmine in vitro was evaluated by MTT assay. The autophagic activity induced by harmine was assessed using GFP-LC3 transfection. FITC/PI double staining was applied for the apoptosis inspection. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe. The potential mechanisms for proteins level in autophagy and apoptosis were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS: Harmine exhibited potent effects on both autophagy and apoptosis. Treatment with harmine could enhance dots of GFP-LC3 in cells. Meanwhile, the process had connection with Beclin-1, LC3-II, and p62 by the inhibition of Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling. However, high concentration of harmine led to apoptosis characterized by the propidium/Annexin V-positive cell pollution, cell shrunk and the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. The regulation of Bcl-2, Bax and the gathering of cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase 3 and cleaved-caspase 9 contributed to the induction of apoptosis. In addition, 10μM LY294002 (a specific inhibitor of PI3K/Akt) combination with 40μM harmine significantly increased the cytotoxicity to the gastric cancer cells and up-regulated both the apoptosis-related protein (cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase-3) and autophagy-related protein (Beclin-1, LC3-II, and p62). Addingthe inhibitor of autophagy, 3-MA or BafA1, increased the viability of harmine-exposured gastric cancer cells, which confirmed the role of autophagy played in the gastric cancer cell death induced by harmine.

CONCLUSION: Harmine might be a potent inducer of apoptosis and autophagy, which offered evidences to therapy of harmine in gastric carcinoma in the folk medicine.

Study Type : In Vitro Study

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