Deciphering the molecular mechanism of tetrandrine in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma and increasing sorafenib sensitivity by combining network pharmacology and experimental evaluation. (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niu, Biao; Wei, Sidong; Sun, Jianjun; Zhao, Huibo; Wang, Bing; Chen, Guoyong
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 60:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Liver cancer -- systematic pharmacology -- traditional Chinese medicine -- PI3K/AKT signalling -- cell cycle -- apoptosis -- chemosensitivity; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2021.2017468
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

Abstract: Context: The mechanism of tetrandrine (TET) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and sorafenib (Sora) chemosensitivity deserves investigation. Objective: Using network pharmacology approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of TET in HCC. Materials and methods: CCK-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays were used to measure cell phenotypes. BALB/c nude mice were divided into Control, Sora (10 mg/kg), TET (50 mg/kg), and TET + Sora (10 mg/kg Sora plus 50 mg/kg TET) groups to evaluate the antitumor effects of TET for 21 days. Sora and TET were given by intraperitoneal injection or oral gavage. Results: For SMMC7721 (IC50 = 22.5 μM) and PLC8024 (IC50 = 18.4 μM), TET (10, 20 μM) reduced colony number (0.68 ± 0.04- and 0.50 ± 0.04-fold, 0.56 ± 0.04- and 0.42 ± 0.02-fold), induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 stage (1.22 ± 0.03- and 1.39 ± 0.07-fold, 1.37 ± 0.06- and 1.55 ± 0.05-fold), promoted apoptosis (2.49 ± 0.26- and 3.63 ± 0.33-fold, 2.74 ± 0.42- and 3.73 ± 0.61-fold), and inactivated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. Sora (10 μM) decreased cell proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and inhibited PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling, and these effects were further aggravated in the combination group. Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR reversed the effects of TET on cell proliferation and Sora sensitivity. In the combination group, tumour volumes and weights were decreased to 202.3 ± 17.4 mm 3 and 151.5 ± 25.8 mg compared with Sora (510.6 ± 48.2 mm 3 and 396.7 ± 33.5 mg). Discussion and conclusions: TET enhances Sora sensitivity by inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR, suggesting the potential of TET as a chemosensitizer in HCC.