Anti-tumor effect of Huaier extract against neuroblastoma cells in vitro

Int J Med Sci. 2021 Jan 1;18(4):1015-1023. doi: 10.7150/ijms.48219. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Huaier extract, the main active constituent proteoglycan, has anti-tumor activity in various experimental and clinical settings. However, the potential anti-neuroblastoma and associated mechanisms have not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the potential role of Huaier extract in 3 human neuroblastoma cell lines. Our study demonstrated that incubation with Huaier extract resulted in a marked decrease in cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Huaier extract induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in neuroblastoma and decreased the cell cycle related protein expression of cyclin D3. Western blotting analysis also showed that Huaier extract induced neuroblastoma cell apoptosis and autophagy. Signaling analysis indicated that Huaier extract suppressed the MEK/ERK and mTOR signaling pathways simultaneously. In conclusion, we verify that Huaier extract causes cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase via MEK/ERK and mTOR signaling. Huaier extract may act as a complementary agent for treating neuroblastoma.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Huaier Extract; MEK/ERK; Neuroblastoma; mTOR.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Complex Mixtures / isolation & purification
  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology*
  • Complex Mixtures / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Trametes / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • huaier
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases