JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis

Abstract JS-K is a precursor drug of nitric oxide (NO) and inhibits tumor growth through various mechanisms. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death closely related to lipid peroxidation, is increasingly being recognized for its role in cancer biology. However, the relevance of ferroptosis in the anti-tum...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuwan Zhao, LuGang Zhu, Xinghua Lin, Bin Li, Bailiang Miu, Jingping Qiu, Sheng Gao, Jianjun Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97887-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312071482605568
author Yuwan Zhao
LuGang Zhu
Xinghua Lin
Bin Li
Bailiang Miu
Jingping Qiu
Sheng Gao
Jianjun Liu
author_facet Yuwan Zhao
LuGang Zhu
Xinghua Lin
Bin Li
Bailiang Miu
Jingping Qiu
Sheng Gao
Jianjun Liu
author_sort Yuwan Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract JS-K is a precursor drug of nitric oxide (NO) and inhibits tumor growth through various mechanisms. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death closely related to lipid peroxidation, is increasingly being recognized for its role in cancer biology. However, the relevance of ferroptosis in the anti-tumor effects of JS-K is yet to be defined. The cytotoxic effects of erastin and JS-K were evaluated in various renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines and normal human renal epithelial cells. Cell viability and the intracellular levels of ferrous ions, glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using standard in vitro assays. The expression levels of specific proteins were analyzed by western blotting. Subcutaneous xenografts of RCC were established in a nude mouse model, and the anti-tumor effects of JS-K were assessed by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Erastin selectively inhibited the growth of RCC cells without affecting normal renal cells. In addition, JS-K induced ferroptosis in RCC cells by reducing cellular GSH levels, increasing lipid peroxidation, and elevating ferrous ion levels, and the effects of JS-K were neutralized by N-acetylcysteine (NAC). At the molecular level, JS-K downregulated GSTP1 by blocking the transcription factor c-Myc. Finally, JS-K inhibited tumor growth in a mouse model by inducing ferroptosis. JS-K induces ferroptosis in RCC cells by depleting glutathione through the inhibition of the c-Myc-GSTP1 axis.
format Article
id doaj-art-0ab61a126751490db2d5c6ad47cdccf1
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-0ab61a126751490db2d5c6ad47cdccf12025-08-20T03:53:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-011511910.1038/s41598-025-97887-3JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 AxisYuwan Zhao0LuGang Zhu1Xinghua Lin2Bin Li3Bailiang Miu4Jingping Qiu5Sheng Gao6Jianjun Liu7Laboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityLaboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityAbstract JS-K is a precursor drug of nitric oxide (NO) and inhibits tumor growth through various mechanisms. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death closely related to lipid peroxidation, is increasingly being recognized for its role in cancer biology. However, the relevance of ferroptosis in the anti-tumor effects of JS-K is yet to be defined. The cytotoxic effects of erastin and JS-K were evaluated in various renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines and normal human renal epithelial cells. Cell viability and the intracellular levels of ferrous ions, glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using standard in vitro assays. The expression levels of specific proteins were analyzed by western blotting. Subcutaneous xenografts of RCC were established in a nude mouse model, and the anti-tumor effects of JS-K were assessed by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Erastin selectively inhibited the growth of RCC cells without affecting normal renal cells. In addition, JS-K induced ferroptosis in RCC cells by reducing cellular GSH levels, increasing lipid peroxidation, and elevating ferrous ion levels, and the effects of JS-K were neutralized by N-acetylcysteine (NAC). At the molecular level, JS-K downregulated GSTP1 by blocking the transcription factor c-Myc. Finally, JS-K inhibited tumor growth in a mouse model by inducing ferroptosis. JS-K induces ferroptosis in RCC cells by depleting glutathione through the inhibition of the c-Myc-GSTP1 axis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97887-3Renal cell carcinomaJS-Kc-MycGSTP1Ferroptosis
spellingShingle Yuwan Zhao
LuGang Zhu
Xinghua Lin
Bin Li
Bailiang Miu
Jingping Qiu
Sheng Gao
Jianjun Liu
JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis
Scientific Reports
Renal cell carcinoma
JS-K
c-Myc
GSTP1
Ferroptosis
title JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis
title_full JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis
title_fullStr JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis
title_full_unstemmed JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis
title_short JS-K induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c-Myc-GSTP1 Axis
title_sort js k induces ferroptosis in renal carcinoma cells by regulating the c myc gstp1 axis
topic Renal cell carcinoma
JS-K
c-Myc
GSTP1
Ferroptosis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97887-3
work_keys_str_mv AT yuwanzhao jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT lugangzhu jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT xinghualin jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT binli jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT bailiangmiu jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT jingpingqiu jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT shenggao jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis
AT jianjunliu jskinducesferroptosisinrenalcarcinomacellsbyregulatingthecmycgstp1axis