Open Access

Cucurbitacin B induces apoptosis in colorectal cells through reactive oxygen species generation and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways

  • Authors:
    • Jian-Lan Huang
    • Li Liang
    • Pei-En Xie
    • Wei-Liang Sun
    • Li Wang
    • Zheng-Wen Cai
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12183
  • Article Number: 484
  • Copyright: © Huang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a member of the cucurbitacin family, which has shown potent anticancer pharmacological activity. Prolonged or severe endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) induces apoptosis; therefore, the present study investigated whether CuB may activate the ERS pathway to induce apoptosis. HT‑29 and SW620 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells were treated with a range of concentrations of CuB for 48 h, and the viability and proliferation of cells were determined using Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) and colony formation assays. Subsequently, the appropriate CuB concentration (5 µM) was selected for treatment of CRC cells for 48 h. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression levels of ERS‑related proteins, flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis, the dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescent probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the relationship between ROS and ERS was determined by western blot analysis. Furthermore, flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis after treatment with the ERS inhibitor 4‑phenylbutyric acid, the ROS inhibitor N‑acetylcysteine and following knockdown of CHOP expression. In addition, western blot analysis was performed to measure Bax and Bcl2 protein expression levels, and a CCK8 assay was performed to evaluate the viability of cells following knockdown of CHOP. Notably, CuB treatment increased apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cell lines, and these effects were mediated by ROS and ROS‑regulated activation of the PERK and XBP1 ERS pathways. In conclusion, CuB may induce apoptosis in HT‑29 and SW620 CRC cells via ROS and ERS.
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October-2023
Volume 26 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Huang J, Liang L, Xie P, Sun W, Wang L and Cai Z: Cucurbitacin B induces apoptosis in colorectal cells through reactive oxygen species generation and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. Exp Ther Med 26: 484, 2023
APA
Huang, J., Liang, L., Xie, P., Sun, W., Wang, L., & Cai, Z. (2023). Cucurbitacin B induces apoptosis in colorectal cells through reactive oxygen species generation and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 26, 484. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12183
MLA
Huang, J., Liang, L., Xie, P., Sun, W., Wang, L., Cai, Z."Cucurbitacin B induces apoptosis in colorectal cells through reactive oxygen species generation and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 26.4 (2023): 484.
Chicago
Huang, J., Liang, L., Xie, P., Sun, W., Wang, L., Cai, Z."Cucurbitacin B induces apoptosis in colorectal cells through reactive oxygen species generation and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 26, no. 4 (2023): 484. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12183