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Glaucocalyxin A induces apoptosis and autophagy in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating ROS

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Abstract

Purpose

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common highly invasive oral cancer. Glaucocalyxin A (GLA) is a diterpenoid component isolated from Rabdosia japonica var. with anti-bacterial and anti-cancer biological properties. However, the role of GLA in human TSCC remains uncertain. The aim of this paper was to investigate the anti-cancer effect of GLA on TSCC cells as well as its underlying mechanism.

Methods

Cell viability and growth were analyzed by CCK-8 assay and colony formation, respectively. DAPI staining and flow cytometry assay were used to detect the cell apoptosis. Lysotracker Red staining was used to observe the lysosomes and autolysosomes of TSCC cells. ROS fluorescent probe was used to test the intracellular ROS levels. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins.

Results

GLA inhibits the cell viability and growth in TSCC cells. GLA induces TSCC cells apoptosis, autophagy and ROS production in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In addition, GLA inhibits the viability of TSCC cells by inducing intracellular ROS production. Finally, GLA triggers ROS-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in TSCC cells.

Conclusion

Our results consistently suggested that GLA can induce apoptosis and autophagy in TSCC cells by generating ROS. GLA may serve as a promising therapeutic drug for overcoming TSCC.

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Data will be made available on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are in deep gratitude toward the science and technology department of Jiangxi Province. We would like to acknowledge the reviewers for their helpful comments on this paper.

Funding

This research was supported by the key researching project of Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province No. 2018ACG70009.

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Author notes

  1. Fanzhe Shi and Danfeng Xue contributed to this work equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 Yongwaizheng St., Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China

    Fanzhe Shi, Danfeng Xue, Qingkun Jiang & Jiaxuan Qiu

Authors
  1. Fanzhe Shi
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  2. Danfeng Xue
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  3. Qingkun Jiang
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  4. Jiaxuan Qiu
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Contributions

JQ, FS, and DX designed the study. FS and DX performed every experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. QJ helped experimental verification. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiaxuan Qiu.

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All authors declared no conflicts of financial interests to this study.

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Shi, F., Xue, D., Jiang, Q. et al. Glaucocalyxin A induces apoptosis and autophagy in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating ROS. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 88, 235–246 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-021-04285-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-021-04285-3

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