Biomolecules & Therapeutics  2015;23(5):428-433

doi:10.4062/biomolther.2015.102

Acetylshikonin Inhibits Human Pancreatic PANC-1 Cancer Cell Proliferation by Suppressing the NF-kappaB Activity.

Seok Cheol CHO 1 ; Bu Young CHOI

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Acetylshikonin; Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; Tumor necrosis-alpha; NF-kappaB; Matrix metalloproteinase; Pancreatic cancer

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Acetylshikonin, a natural naphthoquinone derivative compound, has been used for treatment of inflammation and cancer. In the present study, we have investigated whether acetylshikonin could regulate the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, thereby leading to suppression of tumorigenesis. We observed that acetylshikonin significantly reduced proliferation of several cancer cell lines, including human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells. In addition, acetylshikonin inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced NF-kappaB reporter activity. Proteome cytokine array and real-time RT-PCR results illustrated that acetylshikonin inhibition of PMA-induced production of cytokines was mediated at the transcriptional level and it was associated with suppression of NF-kappaB activity and matrix metalloprotenases. Finally, we observed that an exposure of acetylshikonin significantly inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of PANC-1 cells. Together, our results indicate that acetylshikonin could serve as a promising therapeutic agent for future treatment of pancreatic cancer.