Marine Natural Compound (Neviotin A) Displays Anticancer Efficacy by Triggering Transcriptomic Alterations and Cell Death in MCF-7 Cells

Quaiser Saquib; Stefan Schwaiger; Mostafa Alilou; Sarfaraz Ahmed; Maqsood A Siddiqui; Javed Ahmad; Mohammad Faisal; Eslam M Abdel-Salam; Rizwan Wahab; Adnan J Al-Rehaily; Hermann Stuppner; Abdulaziz A Al-Khedhairy

doi:10.3390/molecules28176289

Marine Natural Compound (Neviotin A) Displays Anticancer Efficacy by Triggering Transcriptomic Alterations and Cell Death in MCF-7 Cells

Molecules. 2023 Aug 28;28(17):6289. doi: 10.3390/molecules28176289.

Affiliations

¹ Chair for DNA Research, Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
² Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
³ Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

We investigated the anticancer mechanism of a chloroform extract of marine sponge (Haliclona fascigera) (sample C) in human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Viability analysis using MTT and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays showed that sample C exposure decreased the proliferation of cells. Flow cytometric data exhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), dysfunction of mitochondrial potential, and apoptosis in sample C-treated MCF-7 cells. A qPCR array of sample C-treated MCF-7 cells showed crosstalk between different pathways of apoptosis, especially BIRC5, BCL2L2, and TNFRSF1A genes. Immunofluorescence analysis affirmed the localization of p53, bax, bcl2, MAPKPK2, PARP-1, and caspase-3 proteins in exposed cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of sample C revealed Neviotin A as the most active compound triggering maximum cell death in MCF-7, indicating its pharmacological potency for the development of a drug for the treatment of human breast cancer.

Keywords: Neviotin A; ROS; anticancer drug; apoptosis; breast cancer; cell death; marine natural product; sponge.

MeSH terms

Apoptosis
Cell Death
Gene Expression Profiling*
Humans
MCF-7 Cells
Transcriptome*

Grants and funding

IFKSURC-1-3202/The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research. (IFKSURC-1-3202).