Embelin inhibits TNF-α converting enzyme and cancer cell metastasis: molecular dynamics and experimental evidence

• Published in: BMC cancer 2014-10, Vol.14 (1), p.775-775, Article 775
• Main Authors: Dhanjal, Jaspreet Kaur, Nigam, Nupur, Sharma, Sudhanshu, Chaudhary, Anupama, Kaul, Sunil C, Grover, Abhinav, Wadhwa, Renu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADAM Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; ADAM Proteins - chemistry; ADAM17 Protein; Benzoquinones - chemistry; Benzoquinones - pharmacology; Catalytic Domain; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Humans; Ligands; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Molecular Docking Simulation; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Protein Binding; Tumor Stem Cell Assay
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-775

Embelin, a quinone derivative, is found in the fruits of Embelia ribes Burm (Myrsinaceae). It has been shown to have a variety of therapeutic potentials including anthelmintic, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation. Inflammation is an immunological response to external harmful stimuli and is regulated by an endogenous pyrogen and pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). TNF-α production has been implicated in a variety of other human pathologies including neurodegeneration and cancer. Several studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory activity of embelin is mediated by reduction in TNF-α. The latter is synthesized as a membrane anchored protein (pro-TNF-α); the soluble component of pro-TNF-α is then released into the extracellular space by the action of a protease called TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE). TACE, hence, has been proposed as a therapeutic target for inflammation and cancer. We used molecular docking and experimental approaches to investigate the docking potential and molecular effects of embelin to TACE and human cancer cell characteristics, respectively. We demonstrate that embelin is a potential inhibitor of TACE. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed that it inhibits malignant properties of cancer cells through inactivation of metastatic signaling molecules including MMPs, VEGF and hnRNP-K in breast cancer cells. Based on the molecular dynamics and experimental data, embelin is proposed as a natural anti-inflammatory and anticancer drug.