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Nov 27, 2023Keywords:
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Cryptolepine, a plant-derived alkaloid, differentially regulates signal transduction pathways in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells
Dr. Patrick Williams Narkwa
Dr. Seth Agyei Domfeh
Prof. Gordon Awandare
Prof. Mohamed Mutocheluh
Abstract
Cryptolepine is the main alkaloid in the medicinal plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. This plant- derived alkaloid has innumerable pharmaco-biological properties, including anti-microbial, anti- hyperglycaemic and anti-inflammatory in diverse in vitro and in vivo systems. We have previously shown that cryptolepine differentially regulates signalling pathways in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Hence, this current study aimed to investigate the effects of cryptolepine on these pathways in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells to ascertain whether what we reported in the HepG2 cells is cell dependent. The Cignal Finder Multi-Pathway Reporter Array was used to screen the effects of cryptolepine on the pathways in the HEK293 cells. Next, some genes in the differentially regulated pathways were assessed using RT-qPCR. Cryptolepine up-regulated 9 pathways, including p53, IRF1 and PR, supported by increased IRF1 and PR transcripts. Contrarily, cryptolepine down-regulated 27 pathways, including STAT3, c-Myc and HIF-1α, bolstered by decreased HIF1-α and STAT3 transcripts. The regulations of the pathways in the HEK293 cells differed from those observed in the HepG2 cells. This study revealed that cryptolepine differentially regulates signalling pathways and regulates these pathways differently in diverse cells. The results from our studies support the pharmaco-biological effects of cryptolepine in different cells.
