Sesamin Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis through the Inhibition of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Signalling in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2

Abstract

Sesamin, one of the most abundant lignans in sesame seeds, has been shown to exhibit various pharmacological effects. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether sesamin promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we found that sesamin inhibited HepG2 cell growth by inducing G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, sesamin suppressed the constitutive and interleukin (IL)-6-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling pathway in HepG2 cells, leading to regulate the downstream genes, including p53, p21, cyclin proteins and the Bcl-2 protein family. Our studies showed that STAT3 signalling played a key role in sesamin-induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. These findings provided a molecular basis for understanding of the effects of sesamin in hepatocellular carcinoma tumour cell proliferation. Therefore, sesamin may thus be a potential chemotherapy drug for liver cancer.

Phytochemical Contents and Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Selected Black and White Sesame Seeds

“…Sesamin of 25–125  μ M could induce HepG2 cell death involving apoptosis [36]. Content of sesamin in free phenolic extract of B2 variety was nearly 39.55 mg kg −1  DW, which is roughly equivalent to 11  μ M sesamin.…”

Natural Polyphenols for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

“…The lignan (10–100 μM) also inhibited the pro-angiogenic activity of macrophages in MCF-7 cells by down-regulating VEGF and MMP-9 [162]. Besides, it was suggested that STAT3 played an important role in sesamin (25–125 μM) induced G 2 /M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells [163]. Sesamin (10–100 μg/mL) could suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation and invasion of PC3 prostate cancer cells by modulating the p38-MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.…”

Sesamin attenuates neurotoxicity in mouse model of ischemic brain stroke

“…Sesamin (SES) is one of the most abundant ligand in sesame seeds (Phitak et al, 2012). It has been shown to exhibit multiple biological functions, such as inhibition of inflammation (Lin et al, 2014), carcinogenesis (Deng et al, 2013) and oxidative stress (Hsieh et al, 2011). In addition, sesamin has been reported to attenuate hypertension (Matsumura et al, 1995), serum and hepatic cholesterol (Hirata et al, 1996), serum triglycerides (Fukuda et al, 1998), cerebral thrombogenesis (Noguchi et al, 2004), and neuroinflammation (Bournival et al, 2012b).…”