Regiospecific Synthesis of Ring A Fused Withaferin A Isoxazoline Analogues: Induction of Premature Senescence by W-2b in Proliferating Cancer Cells

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 23;7(1):13749. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13664-x.

Abstract

Induction of premature senescence represents a novel functional strategy to curb the uncontrolled proliferation of malignant cancer cells. This study unveils the regiospecific synthesis of novel isoxazoline derivatives condensed to ring A of medicinal plant product Withaferin-A. Intriguingly, the cis fused products with β-oriented hydrogen exhibited excellent cytotoxic activities against proliferating human breast cancer MCF7 and colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells. The most potent derivative W-2b triggered premature senescence along with increase in senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, G2/M cell cycle arrest, and induction of senescence-specific marker p21Waf1/Cip1 at its sub-toxic concentration. W-2b conferred a robust increase in phosphorylation of mammalian checkpoint kinase-2 (Chk2) in cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing of endogenous Chk2 by siRNA divulged that the amplification of p21 expression and senescence by W-2b was Chk2-dependent. Chk2 activation (either by ectopic overexpression or through treatment with W-2b) suppressed NM23-H1 signaling axis involved in cancer cell proliferation. Finally, W-2b showed excellent in vivo efficacy with 83.8% inhibition of tumor growth at a dose of 25 mg/kg, b.w. in mouse mammary carcinoma model. Our study claims that W-2b could be a potential candidate to limit aberrant cellular proliferation rendering promising improvement in the treatment regime in cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects*
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Isoxazoles / chemistry
  • Isoxazoles / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Withanolides / chemistry
  • Withanolides / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Isoxazoles
  • Withanolides
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2
  • CHEK2 protein, human
  • withaferin A