Knockdown of HIF-1α by siRNA-expressing plasmid delivered by attenuated Salmonella enhances the antitumor effects of cisplatin on prostate cancer

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 8;7(1):7546. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07973-4.

Abstract

Resistance to cisplatin (DDP) and dose-related toxicity remain two important obstacles in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) patients with DDP-based chemotherapy. We have investigated whether the knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) by siRNA could enhance the antitumor activity of DDP, and aimed to determine the underlying mechanisms. Intravenous injection of attenuated Salmonella carrying a HIF-1α siRNA-expressing plasmid was used to knockdown HIF-1α in a PC-3 xenograft model. The in vitro and in vivo effects of HIF-1α siRNA treatment and/or DPP on PCa cell proliferation, apoptosis, glycolysis, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by examining molecular markers specific to each process. The results demonstrated that the treatment of tumor-bearing mice with attenuated Salmonella carrying the HIF-1α siRNA plasmid greatly enhanced the antitumor effects of low-dose DDP. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that knockdown of HIF-1α improved the response of PCa cells to DDP by redirecting aerobic glycolysis toward mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, leading to cell death through overproduction of ROS. Our findings indicate that DDP-based chemotherapy combined with targeting the HIF-1α-regulated cancer metabolism pathway might be an ideal strategy to treat PCa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice, Nude
  • PC-3 Cells
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Salmonella / genetics
  • Salmonella / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Cisplatin