Ajoene, a Major Organosulfide Found in Crushed Garlic, Induces NAD(P
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http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.15430/JCP.2019.24.2.112&domain=pdf&date_stamp=2019-6-30 JOURNAL OF CANCER PREVENTION https://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2019.24.2.112 Vol. 24, No. 2, June 2019 pISSN 2288-3649ㆍeISSN 2288-3657 www.jcpjournal.org Ajoene, a Major Organosulfide Found in Crushed Original Garlic, Induces NAD(P)H:quinone Oxidoreductase Article Expression Through Nuclear Factor E2-related Factor-2 Activation in Human Breast Epithelial Cells Seung-Ju Cho1,*, Jae-Ha Ryu4, Young-Joon Surh1,2,3 1Tumor Microenvironment Global Core Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 2Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and 3Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, 4College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea Background: NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) is a widely-distributed flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent flavoprotein that promotes obligatory 2-electron reductions of quinones, quinoneimines, nitroaromatics, and azo dyes. This reduces quinone levels and thereby minimizes generation of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed by redox cycling, and concurrent depletion of intracellular thiol pools. Ajoene is derived from crushed garlic. It is formed by a reaction involving two allicin molecules, and is composed of allyl sulfide and vinyl disulfide. Ajoene is present in two isomers, E- and Z-form. Methods: Expression of antioxidant enzymes and nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) was measured by Western blot analysis. NQO1 promoter activity was assessed by the luciferase reporter gene assay. ROS accumulation was monitored by using the fluorescence-generating probe 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. The intracellular glutathione levels were measured by using a commercially available kit. Results: Z-ajoene significantly up-regulated the expression of representative antioxidant enzyme NQO1 in non-tumorigenic breast epithelial MCF-10A cells at non-toxic concentrations. Z-ajoene enhanced up-regulation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2, which plays a pivotal role in the induction of many genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and other cytoprotective proteins. Z-ajoene treatment also increased the activity of nqo1-promoter harboring antioxidant response element consensus sequences in MCF-10A cells. Silencing of Nrf2 by small interfering RNA abrogated ajoene-induced expression of NQO1. Z-ajoene activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Inhibition of ERK activation by U0126 abrogated ability of Z-ajoene to activate Nrf2 and to induce NQO1 expression. Intracellular ROS accumulation was observed after treatment with Z-ajoene, whereas the E-isoform was not effective. The inhibition of ROS by treatment with N-acetylcysteine, a radical scavenger, abrogated Z-ajoene-induced expression of NQO1 as well as activation of ERK and Nrf2, suggesting that Z-ajoene augments the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant defense via ROS generation and ERK activation. Conclusions: Z-ajoene induces NQO1 expression in MCF-10A cells through ROS-mediated activation of Nrf2. (J Cancer Prev 2019;24:112-122) Key Words: Ajoene, Garlic, Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, Extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Reactive oxygen species INTRODUCTION mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) is considered to be a pivotal step in ROS-induced signaling pathways. It has been Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are recognized to play a key role shown that increased ROS production in leukemic cells leads to in cell signaling. At the cellular level, oxidant injury elicits a broad the activation of MAPK and cell death [2-5]. The MAPK pathways spectrum of responses ranging from proliferation to growth consist of three parallel kinase modules, that is, extracellular arrest, to senescence, and to cell death [1]. Activation of signal-regulating kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), Received June 16, 2019, Revised June 24, 2019, Accepted June 25, 2019 Correspondence to: Young-Joon Surh E-mail: surh@ snu.ac.kr, ORCID: Young-Joon Surh, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8310-1795 *Current affiliation: New Drug Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyeong-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28160, Korea. Copyright © 2019 Korean Society of Cancer Prevention cc This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 112 Seung-Ju Cho, et al: Ajoene Induces NQO1 Expression Through Nrf2 Activation 113 and p38 MAPK pathways. In general, JNK and p38 MAPK MATERIALS AND METHODS activation is associated with apoptosis induction, whereas ERK 1. Chemicals and biological agents activation is cytoprotective [6]. Cells are equipped with a battery of cytoprotective enzymes, Crushed garlic bulb was incubated at the room temperature for which are expressed in response to oxidative stress to protect 12 hours, and at 37oC for additional 2 hours, and then extracted against ROS-induced damage of cellular macromolecules, such as with 80% ethanol. E- and Z-ajoene were purified by the repeated DNA, RNA, and proteins. These cytoprotective enzymes include chromatography and their structures were identified by NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 spectroscopic analysis. Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (HO-1), superoxide dismutase, glutathione (GSH)-S-transferase, (DMEM) and FBS were obtained from Gibco BRL (Grand Island, GSH peroxidase, glutamate cysteine ligase, uridine diphosphate NY, USA). Dithiothreitol (DTT), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), and glucuronosyltransferase, etc. [7,8]. Among them, NQO1 plays an anti-actin antibody were procured from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. important role in protection against endogenous and exogenous Louis, MO, USA). Primary antibodies for Nrf2 and NQO1 were quinines, thereby protecting the cell from undesired oxidative supplied by Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). damage. Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies were The proximal promoter regions of genes encoding many purchased from Zymed Laboratories Inc. (San Francisco, CA, antioxidant and cytoprotective enzymes including NQO1 harbor USA). The ECL chemiluninescent detection kit was obtained from a consensus sequence known as antioxidant response element Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (Buckinghamshire, UK). (ARE) or electrophile response element (EpRE), which is a Bicinchoninic acid protein assay reagent was a product of Pierce preferred target of the redox-sensitive transcription factor, Biotechnology (Rockfold, IL, USA). Mouse monoclonal lamin B1 nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) [8]. Nrf2 is normally antibody, human specific Nrf2-siRNA (sense 5ˊ-AAGAGUAUGAG sequestered in the cytoplasm as an inactive complex with its CUGGAAAAACTT-3ˊ; antisense 5ˊ-GUUUUUCCAGCUCAUACUCU cytosolic repressor, named Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 UTT-3ˊ), and StealthTM universal RNAi negative control duplexes, (Keap1). As an adaptive response to mild oxidative or electrophilic and 2ˊ,7ˊ-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) were purchased insults, Nrf2 is dissociated from the inhibitory protein Keap1 and from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA). Polyvinylidene difluoride translocates to nucleus where it binds to cis-acting ARE or EpRE, (PVDF) membrane was supplied from Gelman Laboratory (Ann leading to the transcriptional activation of antioxidant and Arbor, MI, USA). The inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated cytoprotective genes [8,9]. kinase (ERK; U0126) was purchased from Tocris (Ellisville, MO, Ajoene is most stable and abundant in macerate of garlic. It is USA). present in two isomers, E- and Z-4,5,9-trithiadodeca-1,6,11-triene 2. Cells and culture 9-oxide. Ajoene, an unsaturated disulfide, is formed from a chemical reaction involving two allicin molecules. It functions as MCF-10A cells were purchased from the American Type an antioxidant by inhibiting the release of superoxide [10]. It also Culture Collection. The cells were suspended in DMEM/F12 has antithrombotic (anti-clotting) properties, which helps prevent medium supplemented with 10 g/mL insulin (bovine), 100 platelets from forming blood clots [11,12], potentially reducing ng/mL choleratoxin, 0.5 g/mL hydrocortisone, 20 ng/mL the risk of heart disease and stroke in humans. Ajoene is also recombinant human epidermal growth factor, 0.5 g/mL fungi known to have effective broad-spectrum of antimicrobial zone, 2 mmol/L L-glutamine, 100 g/mL penicillin/streptomycin/ (antibacterial and antifungal) properties [13,14]. Ajoene and fungi zone mixture, and 5% heat-inactivated horse serum and o several other organosulfur compounds from garlic have also been maintained at 37 C in 5% CO2. For isolation of embryonic reported to inhibit the proliferation and to induce apoptosis of fibroblasts, nrf2-null mice, in which the nrf2 gene is disrupted by human mammary, bladder, and skin tumor cell lines [15-18]. targeted gene knockout, were provided by Dr. Jeffery Johnson, Ajoene suppresses tumor cell growth by targeting the microtubule University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. The nrf2−/−, nrf2+/−, cytoskeleton of such cells [19]. and wild-type mice were maintained in the animal quarters in The present study explored the antioxidant effects of ajoene accordance with the university