Background

Human gliomas, predominantly arising from the transformation of astrocytes, are the most common and aggressive brain tumors [1, 2]. According to the grading system of the World Health Organization, gliomas are classed into low-grade pilocytic astrocytomas and diffuse fibrillary astrocytomas with better prognoses (grades I and II) as well as high-grade anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with worse prognoses (grades III and IV). Among these glioma types, GBMs are most lethal brain tumors [2, 3]. Because of uncontrolled tumor proliferation, infiltrative growth, angiogenesis, and resistance to apoptosis, the 5-year survival rate of malignant glioma patients is about 5% [4, 5]. In addition, the location of tumor occurrence in the brain and the high variability in genetic abnormalities are two other key risk factors existing in malignant gliomas [6]. The standard therapeutic approach for malignant gliomas is surgical resection followed by concurrent irradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy [1]. Unfortunately, the median overall survival rate of GBM is low at 10.2~ 14.6 months [4]. Therefore, malignant gliomas remain a challenge in the face of optimal treatment that includes surgery and chemotherapy.

Temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA-alkylating agent, is a chief chemotherapeutic drug for treating malignant gliomas [7]. With an excellent ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), TMZ can significantly induce apoptotic insults to glioma cells and suppress tumor growth. As to the mechanism, TMZ carries out its DNA-alkylating activity by specifically alkylating guanine at the O6 site, which results in mispairing during subsequent DNA replication, consequently inducing cell cycle arrest and ultimately apoptosis of glioma cells [7, 8]. At present, surgical resection followed by radiotherapy with daily oral TMZ is the standard therapeutic regimen for newly diagnosed malignant gliomas [9]. Unfortunately, TMZ administration can lead to multiple side effects, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, mouth sores, and hair loss [10]. These complications can reduce the therapeutic performance and quality of life of glioma patients. Furthermore, tolerance to TMZ by high-grade gliomas, especially in recurrent GBM patients, has recently become a serious issue. One of the main causes of TMZ resistance is greater expression and activation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) [11]. Fan et al. reported that targeting MGMT has the potential for treating TMZ-tolerant gliomas [12]. As a result, exploring effective chemotherapeutic drugs for TMZ-resistant gliomas is critical to build up a de novo strategy for therapy of GBM patients.

Honokiol (2-(4-hydroxy-3-prop-2-enyl-phenyl)-4-prop-2-enyl-phenol), a small-molecule polyphenol, is a major bioactive constituent of the traditional Chinese medicine Magnolia officinalis (Houpo). Previous studies showed extensive application of honokiol for treating a variety of diseases such as anxiety and nervous disturbances, thrombotic stroke, typhoid fever, and dead muscles [13, 14]. Our previous study also showed penetration of honokiol across the BBB and its low toxicity to normal brain cells in vitro and in vivo [15]. Accordingly, we studied the effects of honokiol on inducing apoptotic insults to neuroblastoma cells and glioma cells via intrinsic mitochondria-dependent pathways [15, 16]. Recently, our findings further validated the benefits of honokiol on autophagic injury to neuroblastoma cells and glioma cells, and the molecular mechanisms occur via the p53/phosphatydilinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway [17, 18]. Moreover, Huang et al. reported that honokiol may inhibit sphere formation and xenograft growth of oral cancer stem cells [19]. Lai et al. discovered higher expression of MGMT in cancer stem-like side population cells sorted from GBM8401 glioma cells [20]. And also, co-treatment with honokiol and O6-benzylguanine, an MGMT inhibitor, may have killed those GBM cancer stem cells. Recently, we suggested that autophagic apoptosis induced by hypoxia may be applied as a new therapeutic strategy for treating glioma patients [21]. However, the combined effect of honokiol and TMZ for therapy of GBM patients is still not well known. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the improved effects of honokiol and TMZ on killing drug-sensitive and -resistant glioma cells and the possible mechanisms.

Methods

Cell culture and drug treatment

Human U87-MG glioma cells (catalog number: HTB-14), purchased from American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA, USA), and murine GL261 glioma cells, a kind gift from Dr. Rong-Tsun Wu (Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan), were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM; Gibco-BRL Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), L-glutamine (2 mM), penicillin (100 IU/mL), streptomycin (100 mg/mL), sodium pyruvate (1 mM), and nonessential amino acids (1 mM) at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. Glioma cells were grown to confluence before drug treatment. Honokiol acquired from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA), with a purity of > 98%, was freshly dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). TMZ was obtained from Enzo Life Sciences (Farmingdale, NY, USA) and was dissolved in DMSO. Human U87-MG cells and murine GL261 cells were exposed to honokiol at different concentrations, TMZ at a clinically relevant concentration of 100 μM, and a combination of honokiol and TMZ for various time intervals. Control cells received DMSO only. Human and mouse glioma cells were pretreated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 1 mM) or chloroquine (CLQ, 20 μM), two inhibitors of cell autophagy, purchased from Sigma, before exposure to honokiol and TMZ as described previously [21].

Preparation of human TMZ-resistant glioma cells

Human TMZ-resistant glioma cells were prepared and selected following a previously described method [22]. Human U87-MG glioma cells were cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS, 100 μg/ml streptomycin sulfate, and 100 U/ml penicillin-G sodium at 37 °C and 5% CO2. Glioma cells (105) were seeded into 12-well tissue culture plates and maintained in culture medium supplemented with TMZ at 50 μM. Two days after pretreatment with a low dose of TMZ, human U87-MG cells were subsequently dissociated with trypsin, seeded at limited dilutions (1/5~ 1-fold dilutions) in 96-well tissue culture plates, and then maintained in culture medium with 100 μM TMZ. When a surviving colony produced, cells were dissociated with trypsin and allowed to grow in the same well. Eleven TMZ-tolerant colonies were selected. Among these drug-resistant colonies, colony 9 (U87-MG-R9) was more malignant and had a more-rapid growth rate, so it was chosen for this study. Human U87-MG-R9 cells were treated with honokiol at different concentrations for various time intervals. And also, human U87-MG-R9 cells were pretreated with 1 mM 3-MA and 20 μM CLQ for 1 h and then exposed to honokiol for 72 h.

Assays of cell morphology and cell viability

Cell viability was assayed using a colorimetric method as described previously [23]. Briefly, human U87-MG cells, human U87-MG-R9 cells, and murine GL261 cells were seeded in 96-well tissue culture plates at a density of 104 cells/well overnight. After drug treatment, human glioma cells were cultured in new medium containing 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (0.5 mg/ml) for a further 3 h. After reacting, the blue formazan products in human U87-MG cells, mouse GL261 cells, and human U87MG-R9 cells were dissolved in DMSO, and the optical densities were spectrophotometrically measured at a wavelength of 550 nm. Cell morphologies were observed and photographed using a light microscope (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan).

Assay of caspase-3 activation

The enzyme activity of caspase-3 was assayed using a fluorometric substrate assay kit as described previously [24]. After drug administration, human U87-MG glioma cells were lysed using a buffer containing 1% Nonidet P-40, NaCl (200 mM), Tris/HCl (pH 7.4, 20 mM), and a cocktail of proteinase inhibitors, including leupeptin (10 mg/ml), aprotinin (0.27 U/ml), and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF, 100 mm). Cell extracts (25 mg of total protein) were incubated with 50 mM of a specific fluorogenic peptide substrate in 200 ml of a cell-free system buffer composed of 10 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES, pH 7.4), 220 mM mannitol, 68 mM sucrose, 2 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM KH2PO4, 0.5 mM ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), 2 mM MgCl2, 5 mM pyruvate, 0.1 mM PMSF, and 1 mM dithiothreitol. The peptide substrate for the caspase-3 enzyme assay was DEVD. The peptide was conjugated to 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin for fluorescence detection. Intensities of the fluorescent products were measured with a spectrometer.

Quantification of DNA fragmentation

DNA fragmentation in human U87-MG glioma cells was quantified using a cellular DNA fragmentation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN, USA) as described previously [25]. Briefly, 2 × 105 human U87-MG glioma cells were subcultured in 24-well tissue culture plates and labeled with 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) overnight. Cells were harvested and suspended in culture medium. One hundred microliters of the cell suspension was added to each well of 96-well tissue culture plates. Human U87-MG cells were cocultured with honokiol and TMZ for another 8 h at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. Amounts of BrdU-labeled DNA in the cytoplasm were quantified using an Anthos 2010 microplate photometer (Anthos Labtec Instruments, Lagerhausstrasse, Wals/Salzburg, Austria) at a wavelength of 450 nm.

Analysis of apoptotic cells

Apoptosis levels of human U87-MG cells, human U87-MG-R9 cells, and murine GL261 cells were determined using propidium iodide (PI) to detect DNA injury in nuclei according to a previously described method [26]. After drug administration, neuroblastoma cells were harvested and fixed in cold 80% ethanol. Following centrifugation and washing, fixed cells were stained with PI and analyzed using a FACScan flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson).

Quantification of necrotic cells

Necrotic cells were quantified using a photometric immunoassay according to a previously described method [15]. Briefly, human U87-MG glioma cells (105 cells) were seeded in 96-well tissue culture plates overnight. After drug administration, cell lysates and culture medium were collected, and necrotic cells were immunodetected using mouse monoclonal antibodies against histone. After an antibody reaction and washing, the colorimetric product was measured at 405 nm against a substrate solution as a blank.

Assay of cell autophagy

Cell autophagy was analyzed by quantifying acidic vesicular organelles using flow cytometry as described previously [18]. After drug treatment, human U87-MG cells, human U87-MG-R9 cells, and murine glioma GL 261 cells (105 cells) were treated with 1 μg/ml of acridine orange (AO) for 20 min. Then, cells were collected in phenol red-free DMEM. The green and red fluorescence levels of AO in cells were measured by flow cytometry (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA). Fluorescent intensities were quantified with the aid of CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson).

Statistical analyses

The statistical significance of differences between groups was evaluated using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan’s multiple-range test. Differences were considered statistically significant at p values of < 0.05.

Results

After exposure to 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μM honokiol for 72 h, viability of human U87-MG glioma cells had respectively declined by 5, 14, 21, 32, 47, 59 and 75%, (Fig. 1a). The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of honokiol to human U87-MG cells was 63.8 μM. Exposure of human glioma cells to 40 μM honokiol for 24, 48, and 72 h respectively caused significant 18, 34 and 35% decreases in cell viability (Fig. 1b). Treatment of human U87-MG cells with 40 μM honokiol or 100 μM TMZ respectively killed 21 and 26% of human glioma cells (Fig. 1c). In contrast, cotreatment with honokiol and TMZ for 48 h led to 37% of cells dying. After exposure to honokiol or TMZ for 72 h, the viability of human U87-MG cells respectively decreased by 32 and 45% (Fig. 1d). Cotreatment with honokiol and TMZ for 72 h significantly induced 71% cell death.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Effects of honokiol and temozolomide (TMZ) on the viability of human U87-MG glioma cells. After exposure to 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μM honokiol for 72 h (a) and to 40 μM honokiol for 24, 48, and 72 h (b), the viability of human U87-MG cells was assayed using a colorimetric method. Human U87-MG cells were exposed to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 48 (c) and 72 h (d). Cell viability was assayed using a colorimetric method. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 6. * and #, values significantly (p < 0.05) differ from the respective control and TMZ-treated groups

Full size image

Treatment of human glioma U87-MG cells with honokiol or TMZ for 72 h respectively augmented activities of caspase-3 by 2.1- and 2.4-fold (Fig. 2a). In comparison, cotreatment with honokiol and TMZ caused a 3.6-fold increase in activation of the caspase-3 enzyme. After exposure to honokiol or TMZ for 72 h, DNA fragmentation was respectively triggered by 3- and 4-fold (Fig. 2b). Cotreatment of human U87-MG cells with honokiol and TMZ led to 6-fold stimulation of DNA fragmentation (Fig. 2c). In parallel, honokiol or TMZ respectively induced 45 and 55% of human U87-MG cells to undergo apoptosis. Attractively, treatment with neither honokiol, TMZ, nor a combination of these two drugs influenced necrosis of human U87-MG glioma cells (Fig. 2d).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Improved effects of honokiol on temozolomide (TMZ)-induced caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, cell apoptosis, and cell necrosis. Human U87-MG glioma cells were exposed to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 72 h. The activity of caspase-3 was assayed using a fluorometric substrate method (a). DNA fragmentation was quantified with a cellular DNA fragmentation ELISA kit (b). Apoptotic cells were quantified using flow cytometry (c). Necrotic cells were determined with a photometric immunoassay (d). Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 6. * and #, values significantly (p < 0.05) differ from the respective control and TMZ-treated groups

Full size image

Exposure of human U87-MG cells to honokiol or TMZ respectively caused significant 38 and 43% enlargements in proportions of cells in the G1 phase (Fig. 3a). However, combined treatment with honokiol and TMZ enhanced proportions of human glioma cells arrested at the G1 phase by 70%. In contrast, portions of human U87-MG cells at the S phase were lessened by 50, 59 and 73% following exposure to honokiol, TMZ, and their combination, respectively (Fig. 3b). Also, treatment of human glioma cells with honokiol, TMZ, and their mixture respectively caused 34, 46 and 63% reductions in percentages of human U87-MG cells at the G2/M phase (Fig. 3c).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Enhanced effects of honokiol on temozolomide (TMZ)-induced cell cycle arrest. Human U87-MG glioma cells were exposed to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 72 h. Following centrifugation and washing, fixed cells were stained with propidium iodide and analyzed by flow cytometry. Proportions of human glioma cells at the G1 phase (a), S phase (b), and G2/M phase (c) were quantified. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 6. * and #, values significantly (p < 0.05) differ from the respective control and TMZ-treated groups

Full size image

Exposure of human glioma cells to 40 μM honokiol for 24, 48, and 72 h triggered cell autophagy by 11, 21%, and 30%, respectively (Fig. 4a). The proportions of human U87-MG cells suffering autophagic insults after administration of honokiol or TMZ respectively reached 29% and 25% (Fig. 4b). Nevertheless, combined treatment with honokiol and TMZ caused a noteworthy 45% stimulation in cell autophagy. Pretreatment of human U87-MG cells with 3-MA, an inhibitor of autophagy, slightly induced cell autophagy but led to a significant 66% attenuation in autophagic insults induced by the combination of honokiol and TMZ (Fig. 4c). In addition, the improved effect of honokiol and TMZ on triggering apoptosis of human glioma U87-MG cells was suppressed by 69% after pretreatment with 3-MA (Fig. 4d).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Effects of honokiol and temozolomide (TMZ) on autophagy of human U87-MG glioma cells. Human U87-MG cells were exposed to 40 μM honokiol for 24, 48, and 72 h (a) and to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 72 h (b). Cell autophagy was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells were pretreated with 1 mM 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of cell autophagy, for 1 h and then exposed to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 72 h. Cell autophagy (c) and cell apoptosis (d) were quantified by flow cytometry. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 6. *, #, and +, values significantly (p < 0.05) respectively differ from the control, TMZ-, and honokiol+TMZ-treated groups

Full size image

Exposure of GL261 cells to honokiol or TMZ individually for 72 h decreased the cell number and induced morphologic shrinkage (Fig. 5a). Combined treatment with honokiol and TMZ caused more-serious injury to GL261 cells. Treatment with honokiol or TMZ decreased viability of GL261 cells by 32 and 45%, respectively (Fig. 5b). In contrast, following treatment with a combination of honokiol and TMZ, viability of GL261 glioma cells declined by 71%. Exposure to honokiol, TMZ, and a mixture of these two drugs respectively led to significant 26, 31, and 47% inductions in autophagy of murine GL261 glioma cells (Fig. 5c). Pretreatment of GL261 cells with 3-MA alleviated cell autophagy in GL261 cells triggered by cotreatment with honokiol and TMZ by 68%. Apoptotic insults to GL261 glioma cells were respectively induced by 46, 56, and 70% after exposure to honokiol, TMZ, and their combination (Fig. 5d). Pretreatment with 3-MA led to a 67% lessening in apoptosis of murine glioma GL261 cells triggered by the mixture of honokiol and TMZ. Pretreatment of GL261 glioma cells with 3-MA did not affect cell autophagy or apoptosis (Fig. 5d).

Fig. 5
figure 5

Effects of honokiol and temozolomide (TMZ) on insults to murine GL261 glioma cells. Murine GL261 cells were exposed to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 72 h. Cell morphology was observed by light microscopy (a). Cell viability was assayed using a colorimetric method (b). Cell autophagy was analyzed by flow cytometry. Murine GL261 glioma cells were pretreated with 1 mM 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of cell autophagy, for 1 h and then exposed to honokiol (40 μM), TMZ (100 μM), and their combination for 72 h. Cell autophagy (c) and cell apoptosis (d) were quantified using flow cytometry. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 6. *, #, and +, values significantly (p < 0.05) respectively differ from the control, TMZ-, and honokiol+TMZ-treated groups

Full size image

Human U87-MG-R9 cells were prepared and selected from human U87-MG cells for further evaluation to see if honokiol could kill TMZ-resistant glioma cells (Fig. 6). Differential morphologies of human U87-MG glioma cells and human U87-MG-R9 TMZ-tolerant cells are shown in Fig. 6a. Exposure of human U87-MG cells to 100 μM TMZ for 72 h caused a 48% decrease in cell viability (Fig. 6b). In comparison, the viability of human U87-MG-R9 cells was not influenced following administration of 100 μM TMZ for 72 h. Treatment of human TMZ-resistant U87-MG-R9 cells with 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μM honokiol for 72 h decreased cell numbers and changed cell morphologies (Fig. 6c). The LC50 of honokiol to human U87-MG-R9 cells was 67.7 μM (Fig. 6d). Exposure of U87-MG-R9 cells to 40 μM honokiol for 72 h induced cell apoptosis by 35% (Fig. 6e). Pretreatment of TMZ-resistant glioma cells with 3-MA did not trigger apoptotic insults but caused a significant 63% reduction in honokiol-induced cell apoptosis.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Effects of honokiol on killing temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant human glioma cells. Human TMZ-tolerant U87-MG-R9 cells were prepared by selection from human U87-MG glioma cells as described in "Materials and Methods". Morphologies of human U87-MG and U87-MG-R9 cells were observed and photographed (a). Cytotoxicity of TMZ at 100 μM to U87-MG and U87-MG-R9 cells was assayed using a colorimetric assay (b). Human U87-MG-R9 cells were exposed to 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μM of honokiol for 72 h. Effects of honokiol on the cell number and morphology were evaluated (c). Cell viability was assayed using a colorimetric method (d). The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated. Human U87-MG-R9 cells were pretreated with 1 mM 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of cell autophagy, for 1 h and then exposed honokiol (40 μM) for 72 h. Cell apoptosis was quantified using flow cytometry (e). Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 6. *, the value significantly differs from the respective control, p < 0.05

Full size image

CLQ was further applied into human TMZ-sensitive and resistant glioma cells to confirm honokiol-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis (Fig. 7). Exposure of human U87-MG cells to honokiol induced cell autophagy and apoptosis by 31 and 40%, respectively (Fig. 7a, b). Treatment with TMZ led to 29 and 45% of U87-MG cells undergoing to autophagy and apoptosis. The percentages of human U87-MG cells undergoing to autophagy and apoptosis were respectively elevated to 47 and 68% following a combined treatment of honokiol and TMZ (Fig. 7a, b). In contrast, pretreatment with CLQ did not induce cell insults but significantly lowered honokiol+TMZ-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis by 60 and 71%, respectively (Fig. 7a, b). In human TMZ-resistant U87-MG-R9 cells, honokiol induced cell autophagy and apoptosis by 22 and 37% (Fig. 7c, d). However, pretreatment with CLQ did not cause injury to human TMZ-tolerant glioma cells, but descended honokiol-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis by 45 and 41%, respectively (Fig. 7c, d).

Fig. 7
figure 7

Effects of chloroquine (CLQ), an inhibitor of cell autophagy, on honokiol-induced autophagy and apoptosis in human temozolomide (TMZ)-sensitive and -resistant glioma cells. Human U87-MG cells were pretreated with 20 μM CLQ for 1 h and then exposed to 40 μM honokiol, 100 μM TMZ, and their combination for another 72 h (a, b). Human TMZ-resistant U87-MG-R9 cells, selecting from human U87-MG cells and culturing in DMEM medium containing TMZ, were pretreated with 20 μM CLQ for 1 h and then exposed to 40 μM honokiol for 72 h (c, d). Cell autophagy (a and c) and apoptosis (b and d) were quantified using flow cytometry. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 3. Symbols *, #, and +, indicate the values significantly (p < 0.05) differ from the control, TMZ-, and honokiol+TMZ-treated groups, respectively

Full size image

Discussion

This study shows the improved effects of honokiol on TMZ-induced death of drug-sensitive and -resistant malignant glioma cells. Gliomas are major solid tumors that occur in the brain, accounting for about 80% of all malignant brain tumors [1]. Our present results revealed the benefits of honokiol at 40 μM, which was less than its LC50 of 63 μM, to efficiently kill human and murine malignant glioma cells. Therapeutic options for treating brain diseases are limited because of the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The presence of the BBB is an important limitation when exploring new therapeutic options for treating brain diseases [27]. Our previous findings also validated that honokiol can pass through the BBB in vitro and in vivo [15]. Furthermore, the safety of honokiol to normal brain cells was proven, including human HA-h astrocytes and mouse cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Thus, honokiol is a good candidate drug for treating malignant gliomas. TMZ is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for GBM patients [9]. However, TMZ administration has multiple side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, mouth sores, and hair loss [10]. Human malignant gliomas are very aggressive, and the 5-year survival rate of malignant glioma patients is about 5% [4]. Fascinatingly, our present results designated the enhanced effects of honokiol on TMZ-induced death of human and murine glioma cells. As a result, honokiol has specific benefits of reducing complications of TMZ by decreasing its dosage and accordingly improving the life quality of GBM patients.

Honokiol-involved improved effects on TMZ-induced insults to malignant glioma cells occur via cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 phase and cell apoptosis. In parallel with lessening the viability of human U87-MG glioma cells, treatment with honokiol or TMZ individually led to cell shrinkage, caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase. Moreover, combined treatment with honokiol and TMZ induced greater cell insults. Such improved actions induced by honokiol were also confirmed in murine GL261 glioma cells. Characteristically, a shrunken morphology, caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase are significant features of cells undergoing apoptosis [28, 29]. Hence, honokiol significantly kills glioma cells with TMZ via an apoptotic pathway. In addition, the present results revealed augmentation in the proportions of human U87-MG cells arrested at the G1 phase. Gelbert et al. reported that treatment of colorectal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia cells with LY2835219, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, resulted in G1 phase arrest, cell apoptosis, and further suppression of tumor growth in tumor xenografts [30]. Our previous study also demonstrated the effects of honokiol on inducing glioma cell apoptosis via p53/p21-mediated cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase [16]. Therefore, combined treatment with honokiol and TMZ can induce apoptotic insults to malignant glioma cells through a cell cycle-arrest mechanism.

Co-treatment with honokiol and TMZ led to autophagy and subsequent apoptosis in human and mouse malignant glioma cells. Honokiol increased the proportions of human U87-MG cells with acidic vesicular organelles. Acidic vesicular organelles are one of the consistent characteristics indicating cell autophagy [31]. In addition, our previous study has shown that honokiol could increase levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II, a consistent marker of autophagy, in human U87-MG cells and glioma tissues of nude mice via activation of the p53/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway (18). Moreover, the honokiol-induced autophagy was attenuated by 3-MA and CLQ, two typical inhibitors of autophagy. Thus, honokiol can trigger autophagy of human malignant glioma cells. TMZ causes cell apoptosis by specifically triggering alkylation of guanine at the O6 site [7, 8]. Recently, Shen et al. recently showed that TMZ can induce cell autophagy, thereby suppressing the development of glioblastomas [32]. Herein, we proved TMZ-induced autophagic insults to human and murine glioma cells. Honokiol may boost the TMZ-induced autophagy of malignant glioma cells. Remarkably, the honokiol-induced improvement in apoptosis of human and mouse glioma cells simultaneously decreased after suppressing cell autophagy with 3-MA or CLQ. Our previous study proposed a de novo strategy for treating gliomas via hypoxia-induced autophagic apoptosis [21]. In addition, numerous of autophagy-related proteins participate in mediation of mitochondrial fusion [33]. Pillai et al. showed that honokiol could induce mitochondrial fusion by activating mitochondrial Sirt3 in cardiomyocytes [34]. Mitochondrial fusion is associated with a respiratory phenotype. Disturbance of mitochondrial electron transport chain function could induce autophagy and apoptosis [35]. Another reason explaining honokiol-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis may be via triggering expression of autophagic proteins in function mitochondria. Our present study implied the potential of honokiol for treating glioma patients with TMZ by significantly inducing cell autophagy and subsequent apoptosis.

Honokiol induces autophagic apoptosis of human TMZ-resistant glioma cells. Despite TMZ being a first-line chemotherapeutic drug in standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy for glioma patients, drug resistance is still a common and serious issue in the clinic [9, 11]. In this study, we successfully prepared TMZ-resistant human glioma cells. Compared to drug-sensitive U87-MG cells, U87-MG-R9 cells were tolerant of TMZ treatment. In contrast, administration of honokiol to TMZ-resistant glioma cells decreased cell viability in a time-dependent manner. Gerson proffered one of the main reasons to explain TMZ tolerance of MGMT induction and activation [11]. Fan et al. further stated that targeting MGMT may be beneficial for treating TMZ-tolerant gliomas [12]. Recently, Lai et al. found that GBM cancer stem cells possess higher expression of MGMT so they are resistant to TMZ administration [20]. Cotreatment with honokiol and O6-benzylguanine, an MGMT inhibitor, caused effective cytotoxicity to those GBM cancer stem cells. However, this study showed that honokiol alone can kill TMZ-tolerant glioma cells. As to the mechanisms, honokiol induced apoptosis of human U87-MG-R cells. Pretreatments with 3-MA and CLQ decreased honokiol-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis. Thus, the mechanisms explaining honokiol-induced insults to human TMZ-tolerant glioma cells may be related to induction of autophagy and subsequent apoptosis. This is the first study to prove the effects of honokiol in killing TMZ-resistant glioma cells.

Conclusions

In summary, this study determined that the LC50 of honokiol to human U87-MG glioma cells was 63.8 μM. Exposure of human glioma cells to 40 μM honokiol decreased cell viability in a time-dependent manner. Interestingly, honokiol induced an improved effect on TMZ-induced death of human malignant glioma cells. As to the mechanisms, combined treatment with honokiol and TMZ induced greater caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, and cell apoptosis but did not influence cell necrosis. In addition, honokiol significantly triggered TMZ-induced cell autophagy in human glioma U87-MG cells. Pretreatment with 3-MA and CLQ caused significant alleviations of cell autophagy and consequent apoptosis induced by the combination of honokiol and TMZ. The improved effects of honokiol on TMZ-induced autophagy, apoptosis, and cell death were further confirmed using mouse glioma GL261 cells as another experimental model. Treatment of TMZ-resistant human glioma cells with honokiol decreased cell viability and induced cell apoptosis. 3-MA and CLQ could reduce the honokiol-induced autophagic and apoptotic insults to TMZ-tolerant human glioma cells. Taken together, this study demonstrated that honokiol can kill TMZ-sensitive and -resistant glioma cells through autophagy and subsequent apoptosis. Thus, honokiol has the potential to be a candidate drug for therapy of human malignant gliomas. However, as this is an in vitro study, additional animal and translational investigations will be further designed and performed in the future.