Cytotoxic activity of 3,6-dihydroxyflavone in human cervical cancer cells and its therapeutic effect on c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibition

Molecules. 2014 Aug 27;19(9):13200-11. doi: 10.3390/molecules190913200.

Abstract

Previously we have shown that 3,6-dihydroxyflavone (3,6-DHF) is a potent agonist of the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (hPPAR) with cytotoxic effects on human cervical cancer cells. To date, the mechanisms by which 3,6-DHF exerts its antitumor effects on cervical cells have not been clearly defined. Here, we demonstrated that 3,6-DHF exhibits a novel antitumor activity against HeLa cells with IC50 values of 25 μM and 9.8 μM after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. We also showed that the anticancer effects of 3,6-DHF are mediated via the toll-like receptor (TLR) 4/CD14, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Jun-N terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular-signaling regulated kinase (ERK), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. We found that 3,6-DHF showed a similar IC50 (113 nM) value to that of the JNK inhibitor, SP600125 (IC50 = 118 nM) in a JNK1 kinase assay. Binding studies revealed that 3,6-DHF had a strong binding affinity to JNK1 (1.996 × 105 M-1) and that the 6-OH and the carbonyl oxygen of the C ring of 3,6-DHF participated in hydrogen bonding interactions with the carbonyl oxygen and the amide proton of Met111, respectively. Therefore, 3,6-DHF may be a candidate inhibitor of JNKs, with potent anticancer effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding / drug effects
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / biosynthesis
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / chemistry*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • 3,6-dihydroxyflavone
  • Flavonoids
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases