Antiproliferative effect of urolithin A, the ellagic acid-derived colonic metabolite, on hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2.2.15 cells by targeting Lin28a/let-7a axis

Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(7):e7220. doi: 10.1590/1414-431x20187220. Epub 2018 May 7.

Abstract

An abnormality in the Lin28/let-7a axis is relevant to the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which could be a novel therapeutic target for this malignant tumor. The present study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative and anti-invasive effects of urolithin A in a stable full-length HBV gene integrated cell line HepG2.2.15 using CCK-8 and transwell assays. The RNA and protein expressions of targets were assessed by quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively. Results revealed that urolithin A induced cytotoxicity in HepG2.2.15 cells, which was accompanied by the cleavage of caspase-3 protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Moreover, urolithin A suppressed the protein expressions of Sp-1, Lin28a, and Zcchc11, and elevated the expression of microRNA let-7a. Importantly, urolithin A also regulated the Lin28a/let-7a axis in transient HBx-transfected HCC HepG2 cells. Furthermore, urolithin A decelerated the HepG2.2.15 cell invasion, which was involved in suppressing the let-7a downstream factors HMGA2 and K-ras. These findings indicated that urolithin A exerted the antiproliferative effect by regulating the Lin28a/let-7a axis and may be a potential supplement for HBV-infected HCC therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coumarins / pharmacology*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology
  • MicroRNAs / analysis
  • MicroRNAs / drug effects*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / drug effects*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sincalide / analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Coumarins
  • LIN28B protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human
  • 3,8-dihydroxy-6H-dibenzo(b,d)pyran-6-one
  • Sincalide