Abstract
Objectives
Piceatannol (PIC) is a polyphenolic and resveratrol analog that is found in many vegetables consumed by humans. Like resveratrol, PIC has beneficial effects on health due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-proliferative features. However, the molecular targets of PIC in prostate cancer (PCa), which is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, are still poorly understood. Preventing cancer through dietary sources is a promising strategy to control diseases. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the molecular mechanistic of actions of PIC in PCa cell lines with different genetic background common to human prostate cancer.
Methods
Human PCa cell lines (PC-3, 22Rv1, LNCaP, and VCaP) were treated with different doses of PIC (5–40 µM) and used for cell viability assay, measurement of total free fatty acids (FFA) and lactate, and cell cycle distribution.
Results
PIC treatment dose- and time-dependently reduced viability in PC-3 (androgen-independent, PTEN null, p53 null) and VCaP cells (androgen-responsive, wild-type PTEN, mutant p53). Because metabolic alterations, such as increased glucose and lipid metabolism are implicated in pathogenesis of in PCa, we tested if PIC could affect these pathways. Results from lactate and total free fatty acid assays in VCaP, 22Rv1 (castration-resistant, wild-type PTEN, mutant p53), and LNCaP (androgen-responsive, PTEN null, wild-type p53) revealed no effect of PIC on these metabolisms. However, PIC treatment delayed cell cycle progression in G0/G1 phase concomitant with the induction of apoptosis in both LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells, suggesting that growth inhibitory effect of PIC in PCa is associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death at least LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells.
Conclusions
While PIC treatment does not alter lipid or glucose metabolism, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction are likely important in anti-cancer effects of PIC.
Funding Sources
São Paulo Research Foundation (2018/09793-7).