Open Access

Piperlongumine induces apoptosis via the MAPK pathway and ERK‑mediated autophagy in human melanoma cells

  • Authors:
    • Su-Ji Jeon
    • Eun-Young Choi
    • Eun-Ji Han
    • Sang-Woo Lee
    • Jun-Mo Moon
    • Soo-Hyun Jung
    • Ji-Youn Jung
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 12, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2023.5318
  • Article Number: 115
  • Copyright: © Jeon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Piperlongumine (PL) is an amide alkaloid with diverse pharmacological effects against cancer, bronchitis and asthma; however, research on its efficacy against melanoma is lacking. The present study investigated the anticancer effects of PL on A375SM and A375P human melanoma cells. PL decreased the survival rate of A375SM and A375P cells, as shown by MTT assay, increase of apoptotic cells by DAPI staining. And PL induced apoptosis by decreasing the expression of the anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl‑2 and increasing that of the pro‑apoptotic proteins cleaved‑PARP and Bax. PL also induced apoptosis in A375SM and A375P cells via the MAPK pathway, increasing expression of the MAPK pathway proteins, phosphorylated‑(p‑ERK), p‑JNK p‑p38. These proteins were confirmed by western blot. In addition, A375SM and A375P cells treated with PL showed an increased number of acidic vesicular organelles by acridine orange staining. Also, autophagy induced by the expression of 1A/1B‑light chain 3, Beclin 1and mTOR was investigated through western blot. When PL was applied following treatment with autophagy inhibitors 3‑methyladenine and hydroxychloroquine, autophagy exhibited a cytoprotective effect against apoptosis in MTT assay. Pretreatment of A375P cells with the ERK inhibitor PD98059 and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 followed by treatment with PL confirmed that apoptosis and autophagy were mediated via the MAPK/ERK pathway by western blot. In summary, the present study provided empirical evidence supporting the anticancer effects of PL on human melanoma cells and indicated the potential of PL as a treatment for melanoma.
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December-2023
Volume 52 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Jeon S, Choi E, Han E, Lee S, Moon J, Jung S and Jung J: Piperlongumine induces apoptosis via the MAPK pathway and ERK‑mediated autophagy in human melanoma cells. Int J Mol Med 52: 115, 2023.
APA
Jeon, S., Choi, E., Han, E., Lee, S., Moon, J., Jung, S., & Jung, J. (2023). Piperlongumine induces apoptosis via the MAPK pathway and ERK‑mediated autophagy in human melanoma cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 52, 115. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2023.5318
MLA
Jeon, S., Choi, E., Han, E., Lee, S., Moon, J., Jung, S., Jung, J."Piperlongumine induces apoptosis via the MAPK pathway and ERK‑mediated autophagy in human melanoma cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 52.6 (2023): 115.
Chicago
Jeon, S., Choi, E., Han, E., Lee, S., Moon, J., Jung, S., Jung, J."Piperlongumine induces apoptosis via the MAPK pathway and ERK‑mediated autophagy in human melanoma cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 52, no. 6 (2023): 115. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2023.5318