Cinobufagin induces peroxisome dysfunction through suppression of the peroxisomal biogenesis factor proteins and interferes with lipid metabolism to affect the growth of liver cancer cells
- 1Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University
- 2Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Abstract
Background: Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Chansu is made by processing and drying the white serous fluid of the posterior ear and skin glands of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor or Bufo melanostictus Schneider. Chansu is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is mainly used for detoxification, detumescence, analgesia, the treatment of cancer, and heart failure. Cinobufagin, as a bufadienolide, has been reported as the main antitumor active component of Chansu. However, the molecular mechanisms related to the anticancer effects of cinobufagin still remain elusive.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore whether cinobufagin inhibits the growth of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells by inducing peroxisome dysfunction and interfering with lipid metabolism.
Methods: The protein levels of catalase, ABCD3, PEX5, PEX6, and PEX10 in human hepatoma cells were analyzed by Western blotting. The effects of cinobufagin on the viability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and clone formation assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was used to explore whether inhibition of PEX could enhance the inhibitory effect of cinobufagin on cell growth of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells. The effects of cinobufagin on lipid metabolism were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics. The in vivo antitumor effects of cinobufagin were verified by animal studies.
Results: Cinobufagin causes peroxisome dysfunction in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells. From a mechanistic point of view, we reveal that cinobufagin downregulates the expression of PEX5, PEX10, and PEX6. In addition, through RNA interference, cinobufagin partially blocks the growth of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells and restrains the expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins via downregulating the expression of PEX5 and PEX10. Subsequently, we perform a non-targeted metabolomics analysis of the cells and find that cinobufagin exerts its anti-hepatoma effects by interfering with lipid metabolic reprogramming. The results show that cinobufagin mainly interferes with glycerophospholipid and fatty acyl levels. In addition, in vivo experiments reveal that cinobufagin restrains tumor growth without obvious adverse effects. Serum metabolomics analyses reveal that cinobufagin causes significant changes in the levels of lipid and lipid-like differential metabolites.
Conclusion: Cinobufagin is a promising natural drug for the treatment of liver cancer, and PEXs may be potential molecular targets of cinobufagin to exert anticancer effects. Cinobufagin induces peroxisome dysfunction through suppression of the proteins encoded by the PEX genes and interferes with lipid metabolism to restrain the growth of liver cancer cells.
Related
- Astrocyte β-catenin suppression by HIV and methamphetamine drives senescence and dysfunction of MEGF10-dependent phagocytosis, neuronal support, and BBB integrity
- Exercise mitigates cardiac dysfunction post MI in ovariectomized mice via miR-21/Sox7-mediated suppression of cardiac fibroblast activation
- The influence of blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) leaf extract on peroxisomal function in microglial cells.
- Empagliflozin attenuates ISO-induced myocardial injury through PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and improved fatty acid metabolism
- Evolutionary divergent PEX3 is essential for glycosome biogenesis and survival of trypanosomatid parasites
BibTeX
@article{yang2026cinobufagin,
title = {{Cinobufagin induces peroxisome dysfunction through suppression of the peroxisomal biogenesis factor proteins and interferes with lipid metabolism to affect the growth of liver cancer cells}},
author = {Jingyi Yang and Wanjun Shao and Congying Yu and Qi Wu and Rufei Xu and Xiaoqian Rong and Ailin Yang},
journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1860569},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1860569/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cinobufagin induces peroxisome dysfunction through suppression of the peroxisomal biogenesis factor proteins and interferes with lipid metabolism to affect the growth of liver cancer cells
AU - Jingyi Yang
AU - Wanjun Shao
AU - Congying Yu
AU - Qi Wu
AU - Rufei Xu
AU - Xiaoqian Rong
AU - Ailin Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1860569
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1860569/full
AB - Background: Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Chansu is made by processing and drying the white serous fluid of the posterior ear and skin glands of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor or Bufo melanostictus Schneider. Chansu is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is mainly used for detoxification, detumescence, analgesia, the treatment of cancer, and heart failure. Cinobufagin, as a bufadienolide, has been reported as the main antitumor active component of Chansu. However, the molecular mechanisms related to the anticancer effects of cinobufagin still remain elusive. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore whether cinobufagin inhibits the growth of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells by inducing peroxisome dysfunction and interfering with lipid metabolism. Methods: The protein levels of catalase, ABCD3, PEX5, PEX6, and PEX10 in human hepatoma cells were analyzed by Western blotting. The effects of cinobufagin on the viability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and clone formation assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was used to explore whether inhibition of PEX could enhance the inhibitory effect of cinobufagin on cell growth of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells. The effects of cinobufagin on lipid metabolism were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics. The in vivo antitumor effects of cinobufagin were verified by animal studies. Results: Cinobufagin causes peroxisome dysfunction in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells. From a mechanistic point of view, we reveal that cinobufagin downregulates the expression of PEX5, PEX10, and PEX6. In addition, through RNA interference, cinobufagin partially blocks the growth of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 tumor cells and restrains the expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins via downregulating the expression of PEX5 and PEX10. Subsequently, we perform a non-targeted metabolomics analysis of the cells and find that cinobufagin exerts its anti-hepatoma effects by interfering with lipid metabolic reprogramming. The results show that cinobufagin mainly interferes with glycerophospholipid and fatty acyl levels. In addition, in vivo experiments reveal that cinobufagin restrains tumor growth without obvious adverse effects. Serum metabolomics analyses reveal that cinobufagin causes significant changes in the levels of lipid and lipid-like differential metabolites. Conclusion: Cinobufagin is a promising natural drug for the treatment of liver cancer, and PEXs may be potential molecular targets of cinobufagin to exert anticancer effects. Cinobufagin induces peroxisome dysfunction through suppression of the proteins encoded by the PEX genes and interferes with lipid metabolism to restrain the growth of liver cancer cells.
SN - 1663-9812
ER -