Epigenetics, Pharmacoinformatics, and Experimentally Validation of Wnt- signaling in treatment of prostate cancer using Blepharis Persica

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Sciences and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.

2 Research center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of Biotechnology, University Campus 2 - University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

4 Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.

Abstract

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a pathway involved in epigenetics and cancer. It regulates cell processes and malignancy in prostate cancer cells. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is also influenced by epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. Therefore, targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling and epigenetics may be a promising strategy for prostate cancer therapy. Blepharis persica (B. persica) is a plant with phenolic and flavonoid compounds that has anti-cancer properties. However, its mechanisms of action are unclear.
We studied the effects of B. persica extract on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in prostate cancer cells (PC-3). We used MTT assay, GC-MS, RT-qPCR, and molecular docking to evaluate the cytotoxicity, composition, gene expression, and protein-ligand interactions of B. persica extract on PC-3 cells. We found that B. persica extract reduced PC-3 cell viability, down-regulated Wnt target genes (CTNNB1 and SNAIL), and up-regulated Wnt antagonists (APC and AXIN). Moreover, molecular docking analysis suggested that four compounds from B. persica extract, namely blepharone A, blepharone B, blepharone C, and blepharone D, had favorable binding energies and interactions with FZD7 protein. These results suggest that these compounds may act as potential inhibitors or modulators of FZD7 protein and thus affect the epigenetic regulation of Wnt signaling in PC-3 cells. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of B. persica extract on prostate cancer cells and suggest its potential as a natural modulator of Wnt signaling and epigenetics in prostate cancer therapy. epigenetics in PC-3 cells and may have therapeutic potential.

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Journal of Epigenetics
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
September 2023
Pages 32-24

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 February 2023
  • Revise Date: 29 August 2023
  • Accept Date: 11 September 2023

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