Abstract
Background: α-hederin an effective component of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, Studies showed that α-hederin exert many pharmacological activities, However, the effect of α-hederin on metabolism is still unclear. This study aimed to illuminate the role of α-hederin in glucose metabolism in lung cancer cells and investigate the molecular mechanism of α-hederin. Methods: CCK8 and colony formation assays were employed to assess the anti-proliferative effects induced by α-hederin. Glucose uptake, ATP generation, and reduced lactate production were measured using kits, and an A549 tumor xenograft mouse model of lung cancer was used to assess the in vivo antitumor effect of α-hederin (5, 10 mg/kg). Glycolytic-related key enzymes hexokinase 2 (HK2), glucose transporters 1 (GLUT1), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), monocarboxylate transporter (MCT4), c-Myc, Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) protein expression were detected by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining and SIRT6 inhibitors was verified in A549 cells. Results: Our results showed that cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by α-hederin in a dose-dependent manner and that α-hederin inhibited glucose uptake and ATP generation and reduced lactate production. Furthermore, α-hederin remarkably inhibited HK2, GLUT1, PKM2, LDHA, MCT4, c-Myc, HIF-1α and activated SIRT6 protein expression. Using inhibitors, we proved that α-hederin inhibits glycolysis by activating SIRT6. Moreover, a tumor xenograft mouse model of lung cancer further confirmed that α-hederin inhibits lung cancer growth via inhibiting glycolysis in vivo. Conclusions: α-hederin inhibits the growth of non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by inhibiting glycolysis. The mechanism of glycolysis inhibition includes α-hederin activating the expression of the glycolytic related protein SIRT6.
Iron-Oxide-Based Nanovector for Tumor Targeted siRNA Delivery in an Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenograft Mouse Model
