Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway

Abstract Background Celastrol, a naturally occurring bioactive compound, has demonstrated potential in treating inflammation, obesity, and tumors, particularly in colorectal, gastric, and breast cancers. However, its therapeutic effects on thyroid cancer (TC), which have poor clinical outcomes, rema...

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Main Authors: Ruoyi Yang, Jie Yao, Hong Ma, Chunyan Shui, Teng Li, Sicheng Zhang, Chao Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Thyroid Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-024-00222-7
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author Ruoyi Yang
Jie Yao
Hong Ma
Chunyan Shui
Teng Li
Sicheng Zhang
Chao Li
author_facet Ruoyi Yang
Jie Yao
Hong Ma
Chunyan Shui
Teng Li
Sicheng Zhang
Chao Li
author_sort Ruoyi Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Celastrol, a naturally occurring bioactive compound, has demonstrated potential in treating inflammation, obesity, and tumors, particularly in colorectal, gastric, and breast cancers. However, its therapeutic effects on thyroid cancer (TC), which have poor clinical outcomes, remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate Celastrol's potential in treating thyroid cancer using cell lines. Methods The viability and proliferation of thyroid cancer cells treated with or without Celastrol were analyzed by CCK-8 and colony formation assay. The state of thyroid cancer cells treated with or without Celastrol were observed by microscopy. Further evidence from flow cytometry and TUNEL staining demonstrated the induction of apoptotic processes in thyroid cancer cells. The expression of PARP1, Caspase-3, Bax, BCL2 in thyroid cancer cells after indicated treatment was analyzed by Western blot and Caspase-3 expression in thyroid cancer cells after 12 and 24 h of Celastrol treatment was detected by immunofuorescence assay. Anaplastic thyroid cancer growth-limiting of Celastrol was evaluated in nude mice. Results Celastrol induction promoted apoptotic in TC cells, increased the expression of PARP1, Bax and Caspase-3 and reduces expression of BCL2 by Western Blot. The expression of Caspase-3 was increased by immunofluorescence, which indicating that Celastrol may serve as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for thyroid cancer treatment by inducing apoptosis through the caspase-3 pathway. Celastrol treatment of mice implanted with anaplastic thyroid cancer cells also inhibited tumor growth, associated with reduced Ki-67 and increased Caspase-3. Conclusions Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid carcinoma cells by the Caspase-3 pathway.
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spelling doaj-art-c22a8e8a20484dbe9499736e958bb4782025-08-20T03:04:11ZengBMCThyroid Research1756-66142025-02-011811810.1186/s13044-024-00222-7Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathwayRuoyi Yang0Jie Yao1Hong Ma2Chunyan Shui3Teng Li4Sicheng Zhang5Chao Li6Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Centre for Translational Research in Cancer, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Guizhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background Celastrol, a naturally occurring bioactive compound, has demonstrated potential in treating inflammation, obesity, and tumors, particularly in colorectal, gastric, and breast cancers. However, its therapeutic effects on thyroid cancer (TC), which have poor clinical outcomes, remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate Celastrol's potential in treating thyroid cancer using cell lines. Methods The viability and proliferation of thyroid cancer cells treated with or without Celastrol were analyzed by CCK-8 and colony formation assay. The state of thyroid cancer cells treated with or without Celastrol were observed by microscopy. Further evidence from flow cytometry and TUNEL staining demonstrated the induction of apoptotic processes in thyroid cancer cells. The expression of PARP1, Caspase-3, Bax, BCL2 in thyroid cancer cells after indicated treatment was analyzed by Western blot and Caspase-3 expression in thyroid cancer cells after 12 and 24 h of Celastrol treatment was detected by immunofuorescence assay. Anaplastic thyroid cancer growth-limiting of Celastrol was evaluated in nude mice. Results Celastrol induction promoted apoptotic in TC cells, increased the expression of PARP1, Bax and Caspase-3 and reduces expression of BCL2 by Western Blot. The expression of Caspase-3 was increased by immunofluorescence, which indicating that Celastrol may serve as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for thyroid cancer treatment by inducing apoptosis through the caspase-3 pathway. Celastrol treatment of mice implanted with anaplastic thyroid cancer cells also inhibited tumor growth, associated with reduced Ki-67 and increased Caspase-3. Conclusions Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid carcinoma cells by the Caspase-3 pathway.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-024-00222-7CelastrolPapillary thyroid carcinomaMedullary thyroid carcinomaAnaplastic thyroid cancerApoptoticCaspase-3
spellingShingle Ruoyi Yang
Jie Yao
Hong Ma
Chunyan Shui
Teng Li
Sicheng Zhang
Chao Li
Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway
Thyroid Research
Celastrol
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Medullary thyroid carcinoma
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Apoptotic
Caspase-3
title Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway
title_full Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway
title_fullStr Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway
title_full_unstemmed Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway
title_short Celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases-dependent pathway
title_sort celastrol promotes apoptotic cell death in thyroid cancer cells through a caspases dependent pathway
topic Celastrol
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Medullary thyroid carcinoma
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Apoptotic
Caspase-3
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-024-00222-7
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