Resveratrol-Induced Downregulation of NAF-1 Enhances the Sensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Gemcitabine via the ROS/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Mar 22:2018:9482018. doi: 10.1155/2018/9482018. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

NAF-1 (nutrient-deprivation autophagy factor-1), which is an outer mitochondrial membrane protein, is known to play important roles in calcium metabolism, antiapoptosis, and antiautophagy. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, is considered as a potent anticancer agent. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of resveratrol and NAF-1 and their mediation of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that resveratrol suppresses the expression of NAF-1 in pancreatic cancer cells by inducing cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and activating Nrf2 signaling. In addition, the knockdown of NAF-1 activates apoptosis and impedes the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. More importantly, the targeting of NAF-1 by resveratrol can improve the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. These results highlight the significance of strategies that target NAF-1, which may enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Resveratrol
  • Ribonucleoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ribonucleoproteins / genetics
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • NAF1 protein, human
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Stilbenes
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Resveratrol
  • Gemcitabine