Abstract
Abstract
We have purified a novel caffeoylquinic acid named 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Caprifoliaceae. However, the biological function of 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester is still unknown. Here, we found that 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester effectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and it displayed less toxicity to a normal liver cell line. Mechanistic studies showed that 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester diminished the expression of YAP at the mRNA level. Overexpression of YAP significantly rescued HepG2 cells from the 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester–induced suppression of proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the YAP downstream target gene CTGF was significantly repressed upon 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester treatment, which was ameliorated by YAP overexpression. In addition, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester decreased the expression of β-catenin as well as CDK4/6. Collectively, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester exerts antihepatocellular carcinoma activity by inhibiting the YAP-CTGF pathway which controls the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway might be another pathway by which 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester exerts antihepatocellular carcinoma activity. As a novel natural compound, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester might be a promising agent for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.
Graphical Abstract
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics