Delphinidin induces autophagic flux blockage and apoptosis by inhibiting both multidrug resistance gene 1 and DEAD-box helicase 17 expressions in liver cancer cells

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the function and regulatory mechanisms of delphinidin in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: HepG2 and HuH-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of delphinidin. Cell viability was analysed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The cell autophagy and autophagic flux were analysed by LC3b-green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Adv and LC3b-GFP-monomeric red fluorescent protein-Adv transfected HepG2 and HuH-7 cells, respectively. Cell apoptosis was analysed by Hoechst33342 staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining and DNA laddering. Cell autophagy, apoptosis and survival related protein expressions were detected by Western blotting.

Key findings: After treatment with different concentrations of delphinidin, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased. Delphinidin could block the autophagic flux, resulting in a significant increase in autophagosomes, and led to an increase in cell apoptosis. The combined application of delphinidin and cisplatin could promote the antitumour effect and reduce the dose of cisplatin in tumour cells. Further mechanism studies reveal that delphinidin could inhibit the multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) and the tumour-promoting transcription cofactor DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) expression in tumour cells. Overexpression of DDX17 could reverse delphinidin's antitumor function in tumour cells.

Conclusions: Delphinidin has a strong anti-tumour effect by inducing tumour cell autophagic flux blockage and apoptosis by inhibiting of both MDR1 and DDX17 expression.

Keywords: DDX17; MDR1; apoptosis; autophagic flux; delphinidin.