Evodiamine induces apoptosis and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells through mTOR/S6K1-mediated downregulation of Mcl-1

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Feb 21;15(2):3154-71. doi: 10.3390/ijms15023154.

Abstract

The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), either alone or in combination with other anti-cancer agents, has been considered as a new strategy for anti-cancer therapy. In this study, we demonstrated that evodiamine, a quinolone alkaloid isolated from the fruit of Evodia fructus, induced apoptosis and enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we found that evodiamine significantly reduced the protein levels of Mcl-1 in 253J and T24 bladder cancer cells, and overexpression of this molecule attenuated the apoptosis induced by evodiamine alone, or in combination with TRAIL. Further experiments revealed that evodiamine did not affect the mRNA level, proteasomal degradation and protein stability of Mcl-1. On the other hand, evodiamine inhibited the mTOR/S6K1 pathway, which usually regulates protein translation; moreover, knockdown of S6K1 with small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively reduced Mcl-1 levels, indicating evodiamine downregulates c-FLIP through inhibition of mTOR/S6K1 pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that evodiamine induces apoptosis and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis possibly through mTOR/S6K1-mediated downregulation of Mcl-1; furthermore, these findings provide a rationale for the combined application of evodiamine with TRAIL in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Evodia / chemistry
  • Evodia / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / genetics
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / chemistry
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / genetics
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / metabolism
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / pharmacology*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • CFLAR protein, human
  • MCL1 protein, human
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Quinazolines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • evodiamine
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70kD, polypeptide 1