Journal of Life Science (생명과학회지)

Korean Society of Life Science (한국생명과학회)
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Anti-proliferation, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Apoptosis Induced by Natural Liquiritigenin from Licorice Root in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

구강편평세포암종 세포에서 감초 유래 Liquiritigenin의 항증식, 세포주기 정지 및 세포사멸 유도

  • Kwak, Ah-Won (Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University) ;
  • Yoon, Goo (Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University) ;
  • Chae, Jung-Il (Department of Dental Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, BK21 Plus, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Shim, Jung-Hyun (Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University)
  • 곽아원 (목포대학교 약학대학) ;
  • 윤구 (목포대학교 약학대학) ;
  • 채정일 (전북대학교 치과대학) ;
  • 심정현 (목포대학교 약학대학)
  • Received : 2018.11.08
  • Accepted : 2019.02.12
  • Published : 2019.03.30
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Abstract

Liquiritigenin (LG) is a chiral flavonoid isolated from the roots of licorice. It exhibits multiple biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. In particular though, the anti-cancer activity of LG in oral squamous cell carcinoma has yet to be elucidated, and LG-induced apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma remains poorly understood. In the present study, we tested the role of LG in inducing apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. LG treatment of HN22 cells resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability as detected by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The induction of apoptosis in terms of Annexin V/7-Aminoactinomycin D staining, sub-G1 population, and multi-caspase activity were assessed with a $Muse^{TM}$ Cell Analyzer. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that LG treatment resulted in G2/M arrest in cell cycle progression and downregulation of cyclin B1 and CDC2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. It also resulted in significant upregulation of p27. In addition, LG was seen to trigger the generation of reactive oxygen species and induce CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein in concentration-dependent upregulation. The LG treatment of HN22 cells led to a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$); it also reduced the levels of anti-apoptotic protein and increased the expression of apoptotic protease activating factor-1, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose)polymerase and Bax. Overall, our results indicate that the pro-apoptotic effects of LG in HN22 cells depend on the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic signaling pathways. Thus, our results suggest that LG constitutes a natural compound with a potential role as an anti-tumor agent in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Liquiritigenin (LG)은 licorice 뿌리에서 분리된 chiral flavonoid이다. LG는 항산화, 항암 및 항염증 효과를 포함하여 다양한 생물학적 활성을 가지고 있다. 구강편평세포암종에서 LG의 항암 활성은 아직 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 구강편평상피암 세포(HN22)에서 LG의 항암 효능을 시험하였다. HN22 세포에 LG를 처리하여 MTT 분석으로 세포 생존율을 평가하였으며, Annecin V/7-Aminactinomycin D 염색, 세포주기 및 Multi-caspase 활성을 $Muse^{TM}$ cell Analyzer로 분석하여 세포사멸 유도를 확인하였다. 분석결과, 구강편평상피암 HN22 세포에 LG를 처리시 G2/M 세포주기 정지를 일으켰으며, Western blotting 통하여 cyclin B1 및 CDC2 발현 감소와 p27 발현 증가를 확인하였다. LG는 활성산소종의 생성을 유발하고, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) 및 78-kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78)의 발현을 농도의존적으로 유도하였다. HN22 세포에 LG의 처리는 미토콘드리아 막전위의 손실(${\Delta}{\Psi}m$)을 일으켰다. LG를 처리한 HN22 세포의 단백질 분석결과 apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), cleaved Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (C-PARP) 및 Bax의 발현을 증가함을 확인하였다. 따라서 우리의 결과는 LG이 구강편평상피암 세포의 세포사멸을 유도하여 항암제 역할을 할 수 있는 천연 화합물임을 시사한다.

Keywords

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Fig. 1. Effects of LG on the cell viability and apoptosis in human oral squamous carcinoma HN22 cells.

SMGHBM_2019_v29n3_295_f0002.png 이미지

Fig. 2. Effects of LG on cell cycle distribution and cell cycle regulation protein expression in HN22 cells.

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Fig. 3. Generation of ROS and defect of MMP by LG treatment in HN22 cells.

SMGHBM_2019_v29n3_295_f0004.png 이미지

Fig. 4. Effects of LG on protein expression and multi-caspases activation related to apoptosis.

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