Tetraarsenic hexoxide enhances generation of mitochondrial ROS to promote pyroptosis by inducing the activation of caspase-3/GSDME in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Cell Death Dis. 2021 Feb 8;12(2):159. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-03454-9.

Abstract

Although tetraarsenic hexoxide is known to exert an anti-tumor effect by inducing apoptosis in various cancer cells, its effect on other forms of regulated cell death remains unclear. Here, we show that tetraarsenic hexoxide induces the pyroptotic cell death through activation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME) pathway, thereby suppressing tumor growth and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Interestingly, tetraarsenic hexoxide-treated TNBC cells exhibited specific pyroptotic characteristics, including cell swelling, balloon-like bubbling, and LDH releases through pore formation in the plasma membrane, eventually suppressing tumor formation and lung metastasis of TNBC cells. Mechanistically, tetraarsenic hexoxide markedly enhanced the production of mitochondrial ROS by inhibiting phosphorylation of mitochondrial STAT3, subsequently inducing caspase-3-dependent cleavage of GSDME, which consequently promoted pyroptotic cell death in TNBC cells. Collectively, our findings highlight tetraarsenic hexoxide-induced pyroptosis as a new therapeutic strategy that may inhibit cancer progression of TNBC cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Arsenic Trioxide / pharmacology*
  • Caspase 3 / genetics
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pyroptosis / drug effects*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • GSDME protein, human
  • Gsdme protein, mouse
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Casp3 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 3
  • Arsenic Trioxide