Aqueous Extracts of Toona sinensis Leaves Inhibit Renal Carcinoma Cell Growth and Migration Through JAK2/stat3, Akt, MEK/ERK, and mTOR/HIF-2α Pathways

Nutr Cancer. 2016 May-Jun;68(4):654-66. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2016.1158292. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Abstract

Toona sinensis (TS) is a type of deciduous tree, which is distributed widely in Asia and used as a traditional herb medicine. Previously, we demonstrated that aqueous extracts of TS leaves (TSL-1) induce apoptosis in two clear types of human renal carcinoma cells (ccRCC) via mitochondria-dependent pathway. In this study, we further investigated the more detailed mechanism of TSL-1-induced antitumor effects on ccRCCs. TSL-1 treatment arrested ccRCC cells in G0/G1 phase through the decrease of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2, and CDK4 as well as induction of p53 and FOXO3a protein expressions. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of TSL-1 on migration were also observed in 786-O and A-498 cells. Mechanically, we presented that TSL-1 could suppress cell cycle progression and motility via inhibiting the phosphorylation of JAK2/stat3, Akt, MEK/ERK, and mTOR in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, we found that TSL-1 inhibited p21, HIF-2α, c-Myc, VEGF, and MMP9 protein expressions in both cell lines. In conclusion, these findings suggested that TS-induced apoptosis and its antimigration activity in ccRCC cells were accompanied by inactivation of several oncogenic pathways.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Meliaceae / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Cyclins
  • Plant Extracts
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • MTOR protein, human
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases