Terrein Inhibits Aggressive Phenotype of A549 Human Lung Cancer Cell through Suppression of HIF-1α

Abstract

Terrein is a fungal metabolite that has already been reported with anticancer properties. However, the effect on the aggressive phenotype of cancer cells has not been elucidated yet. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of terrein was first determined against lung cancer cells (A549) model and compared with several normal cell lines (Vero, L6, and H9C2 cells). The data demonstrated that terrein had a specific effect on A549 cells relative to normal cells with high selectivity index values. Then, the hypoxic model that recognized to induce aggressive abilities was established in A549 cells by cobalt chloride (CoCl2) stimulation. With this model, terrein could reduce HIF-1α, a marker of hypoxia, and inhibit both migration and invasion of which the effect on invasion is more explicit. Our results demonstrated that terrein has a potential new role as the anti-aggressive phenotype by inhibiting cancer cell migration and invasion through HIF-1α reduction. HIGHLIGHTS Terrein, a secondary bioactive metabolite extracted from Aspergillus terreus, demonstrates anticancer effect on lung cancer cells with less cytotoxic on normal cells CoCl2 treatment was successfully used for creating hypoxic model which resulting in HIF-1a augmentation and aggressive abilities enhancement in lung cancer cells Terrein could reduce HIF-1a expression and invasive ability of lung cancer cells demonstrated the potential role as anti-metastatic agent for lung cancer GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT