These results suggest that dietary consumption of urolithin A could induce autophagy and inhibit human colorectal cancer cell metastasis. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Metabolite of ellagitannins, urolithin A induces autophagy and inhibits metastasis in human sw620 colorectal cancer cells.
Mol Carcinog. 2018 Feb ;57(2):193-200. Epub 2017 Nov 26. PMID: 28976622
Wenhua Zhao
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved pathway in which cytoplasmic contents are degraded and recycled. This study found that submicromolar concentrations of urolithin A, a major polyphenol metabolite, induced autophagy in SW620 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Exposure to urolithin A also dose-dependently decreased cell proliferation, delayed cell migration, and decreased matrix metalloproteinas-9 (MMP-9) activity. In addition, inhibition of autophagy by Atg5-siRNA, caspases by Z-VAD-FMK suppressed urolithin A-stimulated cell death and anti-metastatic effects. Micromolar urolithin A concentrations induced both autophagy and apoptosis. Urolithin A suppressed cell cycle progression and inhibited DNA synthesis. These results suggest that dietary consumption of urolithin A could induce autophagy and inhibit human CRC cell metastasis. Urolithins may thus contribute to CRC treatment and offer an alternative or adjunct chemotherapeutic agent to combat this disease.