Pyrrolidine SS13 induces oxidative stress and autophagy-mediated cell death in colorectal cancer cells

Introduction

Pyrrolidines, nitrogenous organic compounds, are among the most intensively studied agents because of their antibacterial, antiviral, neurological, and promising antitumor effects. Moreover, many medicinal drugs contain pyrrolidine moiety such as sunitinib (anticancer drug), telaprevir and ombitasvir (antiviral drugs) or ramipril (antihypertensive drug).

Rationale of the Study

Based on the pro-apoptotic effect of pyrrolidine SS13, this study focuses on the pro-oxidative properties of the tested pyrrolidine SS13 on colorectal cancer cells to deepen the understanding of its mechanisms of action.

Research hypothesis

We hypothesize that SS13 induces oxidative stress and autophagy activation in HCT116 and Caco-2 cell lines, thus contributing to antiproliferative effects.

Methods

Flow cytometry, western blot, fluorescence microscopy and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate the effect of pyrrolidine SS13.

Conclusion and future directions

Pyrrolidine SS13 induced oxidative stress through the accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in both cell lines and the modulation of both superoxide dismutase isoenzymes (SOD1, SOD2). Oxidative stress was also associated with the activation of DNA damage response system and modulation of stress/survival pathways. We demonstrated for the first time that pyrrolidine SS13 is involved in the induction of autophagy accompanied by increased levels of autophagic markers (p-AMPK, p-ULK, LC3I/II and ATG7) and a significant decrease in p62 protein levels in both cell lines. Finally, chloroquine, an inhibitor of autophagy, enhanced cell survival and suppressed the cytotoxic effect of SS13 in HCT116 and Caco-2 cells, indicating that SS13 contributes to autophagy-mediated cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that oxidative stress and autophagy participate in the antiproliferative effect of pyrrolidine SS13 on colorectal cancer cells. Further research using primary cell cultures obtained from different animal tissues as well as performing in vivo experiments is needed to understand these processes in detail and to investigate the potential therapeutic application of new pyrrolidine derivatives.