Scopadulciol, Isolated from Scoparia dulcis, Induces β-Catenin Degradation and Overcomes Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis Ligand Resistance in AGS Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells

J Nat Prod. 2015 Apr 24;78(4):864-72. doi: 10.1021/np500933v. Epub 2015 Mar 20.

Abstract

Scopadulciol (1), a scopadulan-type diterpenoid, was isolated from Scoparia dulcis along with three other compounds (2-4) by an activity-guided approach using the TCF reporter (TOP) luciferase-based assay system. A fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) revealed that compound 1 was cytotoxic to AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. The treatment of AGS cells with 1 decreased β-catenin levels and also inhibited its nuclear localization. The pretreatment of AGS cells with a proteasome inhibitor, either MG132 or epoxomicin, protected against the degradation of β-catenin induced by 1. The 1-induced degradation of β-catenin was also abrogated in the presence of pifithrin-α, an inhibitor of p53 transcriptional activity. Compound 1 inhibited TOP activity in AGS cells and downregulated the protein levels of cyclin D1, c-myc, and survivin. Compound 1 also sensitized AGS cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of the death receptors, DR4 and DR5, and decreasing the level of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Collectively, our results demonstrated that 1 induced the p53- and proteasome-dependent degradation of β-catenin, which resulted in the inhibition of TCF/β-catenin transcription in AGS cells. Furthermore, 1 enhanced apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant AGS when combined with TRAIL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abietanes / chemistry
  • Abietanes / isolation & purification*
  • Abietanes / pharmacology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzothiazoles / pharmacology
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Leupeptins / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / drug effects
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / genetics
  • Scoparia / chemistry*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / metabolism
  • Toluene / analogs & derivatives
  • Toluene / pharmacology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Abietanes
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Leupeptins
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • beta Catenin
  • scopadulciol
  • Toluene
  • pifithrin
  • benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde