Apoptosis-inducing Effect of Hydroquinone 5- O-Cinnamoyl Ester Analog of Renieramycin M on Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Abstract

Background: A newly-synthesized derivative of renieramycin M (RM), an anticancer lead compound isolated from the blue sponge Xestospongia sp., hydroquinone 5-O-cinnamoyl ester (CIN-RM), was investigated here for its activity against non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Materials and methods: Cytotoxicity effects of CIN-RM and RM on H292 lung cancer cells were determined by the MTT assay. We also investigated the mechanism of CIN-RM-mediated apoptosis and mechanism of action of this compound by western blotting.

Results: CIN-RM showed more potent cytotoxicity than its parental compound (RM) against H292 lung cancer cells. At concentrations of 15-60 μM, CIN-RM significantly induced apoptosis by increasing expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and activation of caspase-3 and -9. For up-stream mechanism, CIN-RM mediated apoptosis through a p53-dependent mechanism, that consequently down-regulated anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), while increasing the level of pro-apoptotic BCL2-associated X (BAX). In addition, phosphorylation of pro-survival protein AKT was found to be dramatically reduced.

Conclusion: This study revealed the potential of CIN-RM for apoptosis induction and in the development of a novel anticancer agent.

Keywords: Renieramycin M; apoptosis; hydroquinone 5-O-cinnamoyl ester analog of renieramycin M; lead drug; lung cancer.