Pterostilbene exerts anticancer activity on non-small-cell lung cancer via activating endoplasmic reticulum stress

Pterostilbene (PT), the natural dimethylated analog of resveratrol (RSV), is a potent anticarcinogen for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its anti-NSCLC mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we show that PT treatment time- and dose-dependently enhanced the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signaling (i.e., p-PERK, IRE1, ATF4, CHOP), thus decreasing the cell viability and inducing apoptosis in human PC9 and A549 NSCLC cell lines. Moreover, the decreased migratory and adhesive abilities, downregulation of intracellular glutathione (GSH) level, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, Caspase 3 activity and mitochondrial membrane depolarization were observed in NSCLC cells treated with PT. These effects were reversed by CHOP siRNA which inhibited the ERS signaling pathway, but were promoted by thapsigargin (a classical ERS inducer) in vitro. Besides, in vivo studies also verify that PT exerted anticancer activity by mobilizing ERS signaling and apoptosis-related proteins, and these effects were enhanced by thapsigargin. Therefore, ERS activation may represent a new mechanism of anti-NSCLC action by PT, and a novel therapeutic intervention for lung cancer.