Wentilactone A induces cell apoptosis by targeting AKR1C1 gene via the IGF-1R/IRS1/PI3K/AKT/Nrf2/FLIP/Caspase-3 signaling pathway in small cell lung cancer

Wentilactone A (WA), a marine-derived compound, inhibits proliferation of NCI-H446, as demonstrated by previous research; however, the anti-SCLC mechanism underlying WA was not fully investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-SCLC mechanism underlying WA in vitro and in vivo. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to assay cell growth, flow cytometry was conducted to analyze cell apoptosis and nude mice xenografts were used to examine SCLC growth following WA treatment. Bioinformatics was used for verification of the target gene of WA. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to examine aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1 (AKR1C1) mRNA and protein levels, and AKR1C1-associated proteins prior to and following WA treatment. Cell growth, apoptosis and growth of nude mice xenografts were assayed prior to and following transfection with AKR1C1 knockdown or overexpression carriers, respectively. It was determined that AKR1C1 was a target gene of WA. Decreased AKR1C1 expression and WA treatment promoted apoptosis in SCLC via the insulin like growth factor-1 receptor/insulin receptor substrate 1/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/nuclear factor-erythroid 2-associated factor 2/Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1-converting enzyme-like inhibitory protein/Caspase-3 pathway. WA attenuated the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of SCLC cells in vitro and in vivo by targeting the AKR1C1 gene. WA may be a novel AKR1C1-targeted drug candidate for the treatment of SCLC in the future.