Zingiberensis Newsaponin Inhibits the Malignant Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Suppressing Autophagy Moderated by the AKR1C1-Mediated JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Keqing He; Xing Liu; Shiping Cheng; Pingsheng Zhou

doi:10.1155/2021/4055209

Zingiberensis Newsaponin Inhibits the Malignant Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Suppressing Autophagy Moderated by the AKR1C1-Mediated JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 13:2021:4055209. doi: 10.1155/2021/4055209. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Keqing He¹, Xing Liu², Shiping Cheng³, Pingsheng Zhou⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China.
² Department of Medicine, Jinggangshan University, Qingyuan District, Jian, Jiangxi Province 343009, China.
³ Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China.
⁴ Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China.

Abstract

Objective: Saponins are a group of compounds from various plants, which exhibit an anticancer activity. This study aimed to explore the anticancer effect of zingiberensis newsaponin (ZnS) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanism involving autophagy.

Methods: HCC cells (Huh7 and SMMC7721) were treated with ZnS and/or 3-MA. The cell viability, migration, and apoptosis were determined using CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The levels of oxidative stress markers (ROS, SOD, and MDA) were measured by ELISA assay. Autophagy was monitored using MDC assay, immunofluorescence staining, and transmission electron microscopy. The relative protein expression of LC3II/LC3I, P62, AKR1C1, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, JAK2, and STAT3 was determined using Western blot.

Results: ZnS or 3-MA inhibited the cell viability and migration, and it promoted cell apoptosis and oxidative stress in HCC. MDC-positive cells and autophagosomes were reduced by ZnS or 3-MA treatment. The expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 (LC3II/LC3I) and P62 was, respectively, downregulated and upregulated after ZnS or 3-MA treatment. In addition, ZnS or 3-MA suppressed the protein expression of AKR1C1, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3 in HCC cells. Furthermore, the above phenomena were evidently enhanced by ZnS combined 3-MA treatment. AKR1C1 overexpression weakened the effect of ZnS on inhibiting the expression of AKR1C1, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3.

Conclusion: ZnS exerts an anticancer effect on HCC via inhibiting autophagy moderated by the AKR1C1-mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. ZnS and 3-MA exert a synergistic effect on inhibiting HCC.