Suppression of MAPK Signaling and Reversal of mTOR-Dependent MDR1-Associated Multidrug Resistance by 21α-Methylmelianodiol in Lung Cancer Cells

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 22;10(6):e0127841. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127841. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and remains the most prevalent. Interplay between PI3K/AMPK/AKT and MAPK pathways is a crucial effector in lung cancer growth and progression. These signals transduction protein kinases serve as good therapeutic targets for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which comprises up to 90% of lung cancers. Here, we described whether 21α-Methylmelianodiol (21α-MMD), an active triterpenoid derivative of Poncirus trifoliate, can display anticancer properties by regulating these signals and modulate the occurrence of multidrug resistance in NSCLC cells. We found that 21α-MMD inhibited the growth and colony formation of lung cancer cells without affecting the normal lung cell phenotype. 21α-MMD also abrogated the metastatic activity of lung cancer cells through the inhibition of cell migration and invasion, and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest with increased intracellular ROS generation and loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity. 21α-MMD regulated the expressions of PI3K/AKT/AMPK and MAPK signaling which drove us to further evaluate its activity on multidrug resistance (MDR) in lung cancer cells by specifying on P-glycoprotein (P-gp)/MDR1-association. Employing the established paclitaxel-resistant A549 cells (A549-PacR), we further found that 21α-MMD induced a MDR reversal activity through the inhibition of P-gp/MDR1 expressions, function, and transcription with regained paclitaxel sensitivity which might dependently correlate to the regulation of PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway. Taken together, these findings demonstrate, for the first time, the mechanistic evaluation in vitro of 21α-MMD displaying growth-inhibiting potential with influence on MDR reversal in human lung cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 21-methylmelianodiol
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Triterpenes
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Paclitaxel

Grants and funding

This research was supported by a grant (2005 and 12172MFDS989) from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (MEST) (No. 2009-0083533).