Work

Thymoquinone suppresses cell growth and induces ferroptosis in renal cell carcinoma by reducing SERPINH1 expression

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Thymoquinone (TQ) plays an important role in regulating cell behaviors of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death involving in cancer repression. Herein, the effect of TQ on ferroptosis and its association with serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) were investigated. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot were adopted for mRNA and protein detection. Cell growth was assessed by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry was performed for apoptosis examination. Transwell assay was used to measure cell migration and invasion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and Fe 2+ were determined by the corresponding kits. SERPINH1 was an up-regulated gene in RCC. Silence of SERPINH1 blocked RCC cell growth, migration and invasion but induced apoptosis and ferroptosis. TQ could target SERPINH1 and down-regulated the expression of SERPINH1. TQ suppressed cell viability and facilitated ferroptosis, which was attributed to level inhibition of SERPINH1. These results disclosed that TQ acted on SERPINH1 to down-regulate its expression, consequently hindering cell progression and motivating ferroptosis in RCC. SERPINH1 may be a biological marker in the treatment of TQ for RCC by targeting ferroptosis.

Source: Letters in Drug Design & Discovery

DOI: 10.1016/j.lddd.2025.100013

Authors: Ruiying Luo, Shuang Li, Haohao Wang, Zuyu Zhang, Long Li, Panfeng Shang

Institutions: Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University

Language: English

Topic: Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,300