2. Academic Validation
  3. Photodynamic therapy induces autophagy-mediated cell death in human colorectal cancer cells via activation of the ROS/JNK signaling pathway

Photodynamic therapy induces autophagy-mediated cell death in human colorectal cancer cells via activation of the ROS/JNK signaling pathway

  • Cell Death Dis. 2020 Oct 31;11(10):938. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03136-y.
Changfeng Song 1,  Wen Xu 1,  Hongkun Wu 2,  Xiaotong Wang 1,  Qianyi Gong 1,  Chang Liu 2,  Jianwen Liu 3,  Lin Zhou 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.
  • 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, P.R. China.
  • 3 State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China. liujian@ecust.edu.cn.
  • 4 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, P.R. China. lynnzhou36@163.com.
PMID: 33130826 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03136-y
Abstract

Evidence has shown that m-THPC and verteporfin (VP) are promising sensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT). In addition, Autophagy can act as a tumor suppressor or a tumor promoter depending on the photosensitizer (PS) and the Cancer cell type. However, the role of Autophagy in m-THPC- and VP-mediated PDT in in vitro and in vivo models of human colorectal Cancer (CRC) has not been reported. In this study, m-THPC-PDT or VP-PDT exhibited significant phototoxicity, inhibited proliferation, and induced the generation of large amounts of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in CRC cells. From immunoblotting, fluorescence image analysis, and transmission electron microscopy, we found extensive autophagic activation induced by ROS in cells. In addition, m-THPC-PDT or VP-PDT treatment significantly induced Apoptosis in CRC cells. Interestingly, the inhibition of m-THPC-PDT-induced Autophagy by knockdown of ATG5 or Atg7 substantially inhibited the Apoptosis of CRC cells. Moreover, m-THPC-PDT treatment inhibited tumorigenesis of subcutaneous HCT116 xenografts. Meanwhile, antioxidant treatment markedly inhibited Autophagy and Apoptosis induced by PDT in CRC cells by inactivating JNK signaling. In conclusion, inhibition of Autophagy can remarkably alleviate PDT-mediated Anticancer efficiency in CRC cells via inactivation of the ROS/JNK signaling pathway. Our study provides evidence for the therapeutic application of m-THPC and VP in CRC.

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