The efficacy and mechanism of apoptosis induction by hypericin-mediated sonodynamic therapy in THP-1 macrophages

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine Vol. 10; no. default; pp. 821 - 838
• Main Authors: Li, Xuesong, Gao, Lei, Zheng, Longbin, Kou, Jiayuan, Zhu, Xing, Jiang, Yueqing, Zhong, Zhaoyu, Dan, Juhua, Xu, Haobo, Yang, Yang, Li, Hong, Shi, Sa, Cao, Wenwu, Zhao, Yajun, Tian, Ye, Yang, Liming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Acids; Analysis; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - radiation effects; Atherosclerosis; Blotting, Western; Care and treatment; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase 9 - metabolism; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - radiation effects; Complications and side effects; Cytochromes c - metabolism; Cytosol - metabolism; Dosage and administration; Genetic aspects; Humans; Hypericin; Lipids; Macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - pathology; Macrophages - radiation effects; Medical research; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - pathology; mitochondria-caspase pathway; Original Research; Oxidative stress; Permeability; Perylene - analogs & derivatives; Perylene - pharmacology; Physiological aspects; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases - metabolism; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; sonodynamic therapy; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic Therapy; United States; United States > US; China; atherosclerosis; mitochondria–caspase pathway; apoptosis; sonodynamic therapy; hypericin
• ISSN: 1178-2013; 1176-9114; 1178-2013
• DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S75398

To investigate the sonoactivity of hypericin (HY), together with its sonodynamic effect on THP-1 macrophages and the underlying mechanism. CCK-8 was used to examine cell viability. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed to assess the localization of HY in cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) after different treatments. Apoptosis was analyzed using Hoechst-propidium iodide and transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) collapse was detected via fluorescence microscopy. Lipoprotein oxidation was determined in malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Western blotting was conducted to determine the translocation of BAX and cytochrome C and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. HY was sublocalized among the nuclei and the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosome in the cytosol of THP-1 macrophages. Under low-intensity ultrasound irradiation, HY significantly decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, greater ROS generation, higher MDA levels, and greater ΔΨm loss were observed in the sonodynamic therapy (SDT) group. Both ROS generation and MDA levels were significantly reduced by the ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and the singlet oxygen scavenger sodium azide. Most of the loss of ΔΨm was inhibited by pretreatment with NAC, sodium azide, and the mPTP inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA). mPTP opening was induced upon SDT but was reduced by pretreatment with bongkrekic acid, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid disodium, CsA, and NAC. Western blot analyses revealed translocation of BAX and cytochrome C, downregulated expression of Bcl-2, and upregulated expression of cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in the SDT group, which were reversed by NAC. HY mediated SDT-induced apoptosis in THP-1 macrophages via ROS generation. Then, the proapoptotic factor BAX translocated from the cytosol to the mitochondria, increasing the ratio of BAX/Bcl-2, and the mPTP opened to release cytochrome C. This study demonstrated the great potential of HY-mediated SDT for treating atherosclerosis.