Antitumor effect of a copper (II) complex of a coumarin derivative and phenanthroline on lung adenocarcinoma cells and the mechanism of action

Introduction

Lung cancer remains the most common human cancer worldwide. A total of ~80% lung cancer patients are histologically classified as having non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (1,2). Despite great achievements over the past decades in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate of lung cancer in numerous countries has remained <15% (3). Chemotherapy remains the main lung cancer treatment and cisplatin is one of the most widely used first-line chemotherapeutic agents for NSCLC treatment (4).

Although cisplatin is extensively employed as an anticancer drug to cure numerous types of cancer, the development of severe side effects and acquired resistance due to prolonged treatment have provoked the consideration of alternatives circumventing drug resistance (5). With this aim, several classes of metal complex drugs have been manufactured using various ligands and metal ions, and the anticancer activity of these agents has been successfully demonstrated in vivo and in vitro (6–11). Copper is well-known as a bioessential element in humans and copper complexes have proved to be promising candidates for the treatment of cancer (12,13). The mechanism for copper (II) complex-mediated cytotoxicity may be associated with the ability of the drugs to bind and cleave DNA. This results in cell cycle arrest or the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn induce cell death or apoptosis (14,15). Coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) is structurally the least complex member of a class of compounds known as the benzopyrones (16).

Recently, coumarins have been recognized to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, antiallergic, hepatoprotective, antiviral and anticarcinogenic activities (17,18). Coumarin derivatives have been evaluated in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, due to the ability to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus integrase (19,20). Interest in metal complexes of coumarin has arisen from the search for novel lead compounds along with the desire to improve the pharmacological profile. For example, certain notable lanthanide complexes of coumarin derivatives, including bis(4-hydroxy-3-coumarinyl) acetic acid (21), the ligand 8,8′-[1,2-ethanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]bis[7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one] and coumarin-3-carboxylic acid have been reported (22). Transition metal complexes with coumarin Schiff bases have also been investigated recently (23). In the present study, the effect of a copper (II) complex with a coumarin derivative and phenanthroline (hereinafter referred to as the coumarin-copper drug; Fig. 1) on LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells in vivo and in vitro was investigated, along with the mechanism of action.

Figure 1 Cytotoxic effect of coumarin-copper drug on LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells. (A) Chemical structure of coumarin-copper drug. (B) The cells were treated with 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 6 and 8 μM coumarin-copper drug for 48 and 72 h, and cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay.

Materials and methods

Materials

The coumarin-copper drug was obtained from the State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University (Lanzhou, China). The LA795 adenocarcinoma cell line was obtained from the Cell Culture Center of the Basic Institute of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College (Beijing, China). Cell culture reagents were purchased from Gibco-BRL (Carlsbad, CA, USA). Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) double staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay kits were purchased from Kaiji BioTech (Nanjing, China). MTT and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes and non-fat dry milk were obtained from Millipore (Billerica, MA, USA). p53, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) and Bcl-2 polyclonal antibodies were obtained from BioVision (Mountain View, CA, USA). β-actin polyclonal antibody was purchased from Abmart (Shanghai, China). The AP-conjugated anti-mouse IgG (S372B; Promega Corporation, Fitchburg, WI, USA) and AP-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG (S372B; Promega Corporation) antibodies were obtained from Beyotime Biotech. (Nantong, China). The nude mice (18–22 g) were obtained from the Comparative Medicine Center of Yangzhou University (Yangzhou, China). The study was approved by the ethics committee of The Affiliated Yixing Hospital of Jiangsu University (Yixing, China). Female adult mice (18–22 g) were housed under controlled photoperiod conditions (lights on 08:00–20:00) and were supplied with food and tap water ad libitum. All animal studies were conducted in accordance with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Jiangsu University.

Cell viability assay

The effect of the coumarin-copper drug on the proliferation of LA795 cells was measured by MTT assay. Briefly, LA795 cells were plated at a density of 1×104 cells per well in 96-well plates overnight and then treated with different concentrations of coumarin-copper drug after 48 and 72 h. A volume of 20 μl MTT solution was added to each well and the cells were cultured for another 4 h at 37°C. The medium was completely removed and 100 μl DMSO was added to solubilize MTT formazan crystals. The plates were then agitated and the optical density was determined at 570 nm (A570) using an ELISA plate reader (infinite F50; Tecan, Männedorf, Switzerland). At least three independent experiments were performed.

Quantification of apoptosis by Annexin V and PI double staining

Apoptotic rates were determined by flow cytometry using an Annexin V/PI apoptosis kit. Briefly, LA795 cells were seeded at a density of 1×106 cells per well in six-well plates overnight and then treated with 2 or 4 μmol/l coumarin-copper drug for 48 h. A total of 1×106 cells were collected by centrifugation and washed twice with cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the cells were analyzed using a FACScan flow cytometer BD Biosciences (San Jose, CA, USA). and data were examined using CellQuest™ software (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). At least three independent experiments were performed.

Western blot analysis

A total of 1×106 LA795 cells were seeded in six-well plates overnight. The cells were treated with 2 and 4 μmol/l coumarin-copper drug for 48 h. The cells were then washed twice with PBS. The total proteins were solubilized and extracted with lysis buffer (containing 20 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), pH 7.9, 20% glycerol, 200 mM KCl, 0.5 mM EDTA, 0.5% NP40, 0.5 mM dithiothreitol and 1% protease inhibitor cocktail; all from Sangon, Shanghai, China). Protein concentration was determined by bicinchoninic acid protein assay (Beyotime Biotech.). The samples were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to PVDF membranes by electroblotting and probed with antibodies against p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and β-actin. Membranes were then incubated with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies at a 1:1,000 dilution and incubated for 2 h at room temperature. The blots were developed using an enhanced chemiluminescence kit (Beyotime Biotech.).

Tumor growth curve and inhibition rates

The LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mm l-glutamine, 1% nonessential amino acids, 100 μg/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin (all from Invitrogen Life Technologies), and incubated at 37°C under a humidified atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO2. At 90% confluence, the cells were harvested and resuspended in PBS at 4×106 cells/ml. The tumor-bearing mice model was established by subcutaneous injection of 1×106 cells along the left flank back of the mice. After approximately seven days, a tumor (5–10 mm in diameter) was observed in each mouse. All tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into three groups (all n=10): One group was treated with PBS, whereas the other groups were treated with 2 and 4 mg/kg coumarin-copper drug by intraperitoneal injection once a week for three weeks, in three divided doses.

Once the size of the tumor reached 5–20 mm in diameter, the short (a) and long (b) diameters of the tumor were measured using a vernier caliper every seven days. The measurement included the skin thickness. The volumes of the tumors for plotting a growth curve were calculated according to the formula V = a2 × b × 0.52. The tumor inhibition rates were calculated as determined by the final measurement of tumor volume according to the following formula: Tumor inhibition rate = (average tumor volume in control group - average tumor volume in treatment group)/mean tumor volume in control group × 100%.

Transplanted tumor apoptosis assay

Transplanted tumor apoptosis was analyzed using the TUNEL assay kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In brief, All mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The tumor tissues were extracted and 10 μm-thick frozen sections were prepared and fixed in 4% formaldehyde (Sangon) for 20 min at room temperature. This was followed by rinsing with PBS for 30 min and incubation with 3% hydrogen peroxide (Sangon) in methanol for 10 min at room temperature. After washing for 25 min with PBS, the samples were incubated with 0.1% Triton X-100 (Sangon) and 0.1% sodium citrate (Sangon) in water for 30 min at room temperature. Subsequent to two washes with PBS, pretreated specimens were incubated with 50 μl terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) labeling reaction buffer at 4°C overnight in the dark and then in a humidified atmosphere at 37°C for another 2–3 h. For the negative control, TdT was not added to the sample and for the positive control, the cells were treated with DNase I. Subsequently, the slides were incubated with 50 μl streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase for 60 min, followed by detection with 50 μl diaminobenzidine reagent for 10 min. The sections were observed and images were captured under an optical microscope (Olympus BX41; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

Statistical analysis

All data were analyzed by SAS v6.12 software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) and the results are expressed by mean ± standard deviation. To compare the differences among multiple groups, statistical significance was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by post-hoc comparisons. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Coumarin-copper drug inhibits LA795 cell growth

The viability of cells treated with different concentrations of coumarin-copper drug was determined using an MTT assay. As shown in Fig. 1, the coumarin-copper drug inhibited cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of coumarin-copper drug was 2.5 μmol/l after 48 and 72 h treatment.

Coumarin-copper drug increases the apoptotic rate of LA795 cells

Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometric measurement were used to quantify the apoptotic percentages in the total LA795 cell population in order to determine the effect of coumarin-copper drug. As shown in Fig. 2, the number of apoptotic cells increased in a dose-dependent manner following incubation with 1 and 2 μg/ml coumarin-copper drug for 48 h. The percentages of total apoptotic cells were 13.46±1.34% and 17.34±1.68% in the 1 and 2 μg/ml coumarin-copper treatment groups respectively, whereas in the PBS group, it was only 5.62±0.85% (P<0.05).

Figure 2 Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/PI staining detected apoptosis in LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells following treatment with coumarin-copper drug. (A) Control cells treated with phosphate-buffered saline. (B) Cells treated with 1 μg/ml coumarin-copper drug. (C) Cells treated with 2 μg/ml coumarin-copper drug. P<0.05. PI, propidium iodide; UL, upper left; UR, upper right; LL lower left; LR, lower right.

Changes in p53, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression levels in LA795 cells

Apoptosis-associated signaling proteins were detected in order to examine the apoptotic pathway involved in the LA759 cell response to the coumarin-copper drug treatment. The expression levels of the apoptotic-associated proteins p53 and Bax protein were significantly increased. By contrast, Bcl-2 protein expression was markedly downregulated in a dose-dependent manner following incubation with coumarin-copper drug for 48 h (Fig. 3).

Figure 3 Western blot analysis of expression levels of the p53, Bax, Bcl-2 protein on LA759 lung adenocarcinoma cells following coumarin-copper drug treatment. Lane A, control cells with phosphate-buffered saline treatment; lane B, cells treated with 1 μg/ml coumarin-copper drug; and lane C, cells treated with 2 μg/ml coumarin-copper drug. The values below the figure indicate the changes in protein expression levels of the bands normalized to the expression levels of β-actin. Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma 2; Bax, Bcl-2-associated X. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01, compared with control.

Coumarin copper drug inhibits tumor growth in vivo

The mouse tumor growth curves are presented in Fig. 4. The tumor volumes were significantly lower in the coumarin-copper drug treatment groups than in the PBS group (P<0.05). Of note, the coumarin-copper drug effectively inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The tumor inhibition rates were calculated as determined by the final measurement of tumor volume and according to the formula described above.

Figure 4 Growth curves of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. The tumor growth curves indicate significant reductions in tumor volume in the coumarin-copper drug group at days 14, 21 and 28 compared with PBS group (P<0.05). Tumor inhibition rate = (2,584.32-1,204.86)/2,584.32·100% = 53.3%. PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.

Coumarin copper drug causes apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo

The TUNEL method was used to assess apoptosis in the tumor cells. As expected, the number of apoptotic cells and the apoptotic index were significantly increased in the coumarin-copper drug groups as compared with the PBS group (P<0.05). Therefore, the coumarin-copper drug effectively induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05; Fig. 5).

Figure 5 Apoptosis in subcutaneously transplanted tumor cells treated with coumarin-copper drug, as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay. (A) Control cells with PBS treatment. (B) LA759 cells treated with 2 mg/kg coumarin-copper drug. (C) LA759 cells treated with 4 mg/kg coumarin-copper drug. (D) Apoptotic index of: a, PBS group; b, 2 mg/kg drug group; and c, 2 mg/kg drug group (*P<0.05). PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.

Discussion

Various transition metal complexes with coumarin Schiff bases have been assessed for their anti-cancer activity, and certain complexes have been found to inhibit the proliferation of PC3 prostate cancer cells (23,24). In the present study, a coumarin-copper drug was found to inhibit the proliferation of LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. To determine whether the reduction in LA795 cell growth was attributable to the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, Annexin V/PI and TUNEL assays were employed to detect apoptotic cells. The assays revealed that the number of apoptotic cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. Coumarin-copper drug also inhibited LA795 cell tumor growth in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Smaller visible cancer nodules were identified on the surface of the mice following treatment with coumarin-copper drug, compared with the control treatment, with an inhibition rate of 53.3%.

The upregulation of p53 and Bax by the coumarin-copper drug may have been involved in the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Normal p53 is crucial in inducing apoptosis and cell cycle checkpoints in human and murine cells following DNA damage (25). This conclusion has been further supported by the finding that p53 is the most commonly mutated tumor suppressor gene (26). The p53 protein is important in cell cycle control and the induction of apoptosis during the treatment period in cancer patients (27). Furthermore, the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents is greatly influenced when the function of p53 is abrogated (28). Bax transcription is activated by p53, inducing apoptosis resulting from DNA damage. Apoptosis is modulated by antiapoptotic and proapoptotic effectors, which involves a large number of proteins. The proapoptotic and antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family regulate programmed cell death and are targets of anticancer therapy (29). The ratio of cell death antagonists (Bcl-2, Bcl-2 extra large protein) to cell death agonists (Bax, Bcl-2 extra small protein, Bcl-2-associated death promoter, Bcl-2 homology 3 interacting domain death agonist) determines whether a cell responds to an apoptotic stimulus. The proapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein Bax and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 are important in the regulation of apoptosis (30). When Bcl-2 is produced in excess, cells are protected from Bax-induced apoptosis. Conversely, when Bax expression levels are high, the cells proceed to apoptosis. Therefore, the ratio between Bcl-2 and Bax determines whether cells undergo apoptosis. In the present study, the coumarin-copper drug downregulated Bcl-2 protein expression while simultaneously upregulating Bax protein expression. These results indicated that the coumarin-copper drug induced p53 protein expression in LA795 cells. The basic mechanisms of inhibition were due to cytotoxic and cell apoptosis effects. These results may improve the understanding of the pharmacological mechanism of coumarin-copper drug in cancer treatment.

At present, cisplatin is the most effective chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of NSCLC. However, the use of cisplatin is limited due to severe side effects, such as anemia, neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, and the development of drug resistance (31,32). Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for the development of novel, efficacious drugs to treat lung cancer. In conclusion, the findings of the present study demonstrated that coumarin-copper drug exhibited potent antitumor activity against LA795 cancer cells by inducing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the coumarin-copper drug possesses the potential for development as an agent for lung cancer therapy. Further experiments are required to analyze the effect of coumarin-copper drug administered in combination with other antitumor compounds.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Development Fund of Clinical Science and Technology, Jiangsu University (grant no. JLY20120072, 2012).

References