Litchi seed extracts diminish prostate cancer progression via induction of apoptosis and attenuation of EMT through Akt/GSK-3β signaling

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 30:7:41656. doi: 10.1038/srep41656.

Abstract

Litchi (Litchi chinensisSonnnerat, Sapindaceae), known as Chinese Cherry, is a subtropical fruit tree originating from southern China. Litchi seed extracts have diverse pharmacological effects, including anticancer. However, its anticancer effects and mechanisms on prostate cancer have not been determined. In this study, we used n-butyl alcohol extract of Litchi seed (NLS) to treat prostate cancer PC3, DU145, RM1 and C4-2B cells. NLS induced a significant decrease in cell viability and clonogenic growth in a dose-dependent manner. NLS induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle G1/S phase arrest by inactivating Akt signaling pathway, which were associated with activation of mitochondrial caspase-dependent apoptotic cascades, up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21 and p27, and inhibition of correlated cyclin/CDK network. In addition, NLS treatment significantly decreased cell migration and invasion via phenotypic inversion of EMT, correlated with increased expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin, and decreased expression of vimentin and snail, which is partially attributed to inhibiting Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Finally, PC3 xenograft nude mice treated with NLS in vivo showed a significant decrease in tumor size without toxicity. These findings suggest that NLS has potential for development into a safe and potent alternative therapy for prostate cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / metabolism
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Litchi / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cadherins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • Plant Extracts
  • Snai1 protein, mouse
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Vimentin
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt