2. Academic Validation
  3. Astin B, a cyclic pentapeptide from Aster tataricus, induces apoptosis and autophagy in human hepatic L-02 cells

Astin B, a cyclic pentapeptide from Aster tataricus, induces apoptosis and autophagy in human hepatic L-02 cells

  • Chem Biol Interact. 2014 Nov 5;223:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.09.003.
Li Wang 1,  Ming-Dan Li 1,  Pei-Pei Cao 1,  Chao-Feng Zhang 2,  Fang Huang 1,  Xiang-Hong Xu 1,  Bao-Lin Liu 1,  Mian Zhang 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Research Department of Pharmacognosy, China Pharmaceutical University, Longmian Road 639, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
  • 2 Research Department of Pharmacognosy, China Pharmaceutical University, Longmian Road 639, Nanjing 211198, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3 Research Department of Pharmacognosy, China Pharmaceutical University, Longmian Road 639, Nanjing 211198, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 25219577 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.09.003
Abstract

Astins (including astin B) are a class of halogenated cyclic pentapeptides isolated from the medicinal herb of Aster tataricus. However, our previous works showed that the herbal medicine was hepatotoxic in vivo, and a toxicity-guided isolation method led to the identification of a cyclopeptide astin B. Astin B is structurally similar to cyclochlorotine, a well-known hepatotoxic mycotoxin. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the potential cytotoxic effects and the underlying mechanism of astin B on human normal liver L-02 cells. We found that astin B has hepatotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo and that hepatic injury was primarily mediated by Apoptosis in a mitochondria/caspase-dependent manner. Astin B provoked oxidative stress-associated inflammation in hepatocytes as evidenced by increased levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), reduced contents of intracellular glutathione (GSH), and enhanced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, the mitochondria-dependent Apoptosis was evidenced by the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and the increased activities of caspases-9 and -3. Interestingly, astin B treatment also induces Autophagy in L-02 cells, characterized by acidic-vesicle fluorescence, increased LC3-II and decreased p62 expression. Autophagy is a protective mechanism that is used to protect cells from Apoptosis. The presence of Autophagy is further supported by the increased cytotoxicity and the enhanced cleaved Caspase-3 after co-treatment of cells with an Autophagy Inhibitor, also by increased LC3-II and decreased p62 after co-treatment with a Caspase Inhibitor. Taken together, astin B, most likely together with other members of astins, is the substance that is primarily responsible for the hepatotoxicity of A.tataricus.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Aster tataricus; Astin B; Autophagy; Liver injury.

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