Cearoin Induces Autophagy, ERK Activation and Apoptosis via ROS Generation in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Neuroblastomas are the most common solid extracranial tumors in childhood. We investigated the anticancer effect of cearoin isolated from Dalbergia odorifera in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with various doses of cearoin. The viability was measured by MTT assay. DCFDA fluorescence assay and Griess assay were used for the measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), respectively. Western blot analysis was performed to clarify the molecular pathway involved. Cearoin induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Cearoin increased the phosporylation of ERK, the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II, decrease in Bcl2 expression, the activation of caspase-3, and the cleavage of PARP, indicating the induction of autophagy and apoptosis. Furthermore, cearoin treatment increased the production of ROS and NO. Co-treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine completely abolished cearoin-mediated autophagy, ERK activation and apoptosis, suggesting the critical role of ROS in cearoin-induced anticancer effects. Moreover, co-treatment with ERK inhibitor PD98059 partially reversed cearoin-induced cell death, indicating the involvement of ERK in cearoin anticancer effects. These data reveal that cearoin induces autophagy, ERK activation and apoptosis in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, which is mediated primarily by ROS generation, suggesting its therapeutic application for the treatment of neuroblastomas.