Neferine promotes the apoptosis of HNSCC through the accumulation of p62/SQSTM1 caused by autophagic flux inhibition.

ABSTRACT: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), one of the most common malignancies worldwide, often has a poor prognosis due to the associated metastasis and chemoresistance. Hence, the development of more effective chemotherapeutics is critical. Neferine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera (common name: Lotus), exerts antitumor effects by regulating apoptosis and autophagy pathways, making it a potential therapeutic option for HNSCC. In our study, it was revealed that neferine inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis of HNSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the results revealed that neferine activated the ASK1/JNK pathway by increasing reactive oxygen species production, resulting in the subsequent induction of apoptosis

SUBMITTER: Zhu F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8128420 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature