Ergosterol peroxide from marine fungus Phoma sp. induces ROS-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in human lung adenocarcinoma cells

As part of our ongoing search for novel therapeutic structures from microorganism, the chemical examination of marine fungus Phoma sp. resulted in the isolation of ergosterol, ergosterol peroxide (EP), and 9,11-dehydroergosterol peroxide (DEP). The bioassay results demonstrated that the three isolates reduced the viability of various cancer cells, with EP being highest in human lung cancer cell line A549 cells. EP induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through mitochondrial damage in A549 cells. Additionally, EP-induced ROS generation and apoptosis were attenuated by ROS-generating enzymes inhibitors and antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, indicated that ROS played an important role in EP-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells. Furthermore, it was observed that EP induced ROS-dependent autophagy, which attenuated apoptosis in A549 cells. On the other hand, EP reduced the LPS/ATP-induced proliferation and migration of A549 cells through attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Additionally, EP showed synergistic cytotoxic effect with antitumor drug Sorafenib in A549 cell viability inhibition. Furthermore, Micro-Western Array and Western blot analyses demonstrated that the protein levels of EGFR, HSP27, MEK5, AKT1, mTOR, Smad2, Smad3, TAB1, NF-κB, and HIF1-α decreased, while the levels of p-p38α, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, fibronectin and p27 increased. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrated that EP might be useful to develop a therapeutic candidate for lung cancer complications.