Project description:Our previous study confirmed that the combination of Hedyotis diffusa (HD) and Scutellaria barbata (SB) significantly inhibited colorectal cancer cells proliferation and the WNT signaling pathway. However, the exact molecular modulation remains unclear. In this study, colorectal cancer cells (SW620) were treated with 1 mg/mL HD-SB for 24 h, and high-throughput sequencing of circRNAs was performed. The level of hsa_circ_0039933 in three colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29, SW620, and HCT116) was verified by qPCR. After transfection of hsa_circ_0039933 overexpression plasmids or small interfering RNAs, CCK8, apoptosis, cell migration, and cell invasion were utilized to evaluate the function of hsa_circ_0039933 in the progression of colorectal cancer cells. We identified hsa_circ_0039933, which was downregulated in HD-SB-induced colorectal cancer cells and positively related to colorectal cancer progression. In SW620 cells with relatively high expression of hsa_circ_0039933, interfering with the expression of hsa_circ_0039933 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SW620 cells. In HCT116 cells with relatively low expression of hsa_circ_0039933, overexpression of hsa_circ_0039933 promoted the proliferation and invasion and migration ability of HCT116. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0039933 targeted hsa-miR-204-5p to increase the expression of wnt11, leading to the activation of the Wnt pathway, thereby promoting the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. This work revealed the potential molecular mechanism of HD-SB for the treatment of colorectal cancer, which was to inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway through the hsa_circ_0039933/hsa-miR-204-5p/wnt11 axis, then suppressing proliferation, migration, and invasion in colorectal cancer cell.
Project description:Hedyotis diffusa-Sculellaria barbata (HD-SB) suppresses the progression of colorectal cancer cells via the hsa_circ_0039933/hsa-miR-204-5p/wnt11 axis
Project description:Purpose: Ursolic Acid (UA), a triterpenoid extracted from Hedyotis Diffusa Willd. (HDW), is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying UA's anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) effects remain insufficiently understood. This study is aim to identify the key target proteins of UA and investigated their functions in CRC development. Methods: The cytotoxicity of three active components of HDW (UA, oleanolic acid (OA), and quercetin) on CRC cells was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomics was employed to detect differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in CRC cells after UA treatment. Bioinformatics analysis and high-content screening were used to identify UA’s key protein targets. The expression and role of RPLP1 in CRC cells were investigated, including the effects of RPLP1 knockdown and its combination with UA treatment on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Results: UA demonstrated superior inhibitory effects on CRC cells compared to OA and quercetin, highlighting it as a principal active ingredient of HDW. TMT-based proteomic analysis identified revealed 438 upregulated and 366 downregulated proteins after UA intervention. Among these, RPLP1 was identified as a critical target. UA inhibited RPLP1 expression in CRC cells, resulting in decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, combination of UA treatment and RPLP1 knockdown exhibited synergistic effects in inhibiting CRC cell growth and migration, as well as promoting apoptosis. Conclusions: UA, a bioactive triterpenoid of HDW, inhibits CRC development by targeting and suppressing RPLP1 expression. These findings provide novel insights into the therapeutic of UA for CRC and highlight RPLP1 as a promising target for intervention.