ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2020
(+)-Usnic Acid Induces ROS-dependent Apoptosis via Inhibition of Mitochondria Respiratory Chain Complexes and Nrf2 Expression in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 24 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Combination of lonidamine with devimistat induces synergistic antitumor effects in lung cancer via multifaceted disruption of cellular energy metabolism.Oncology reports · 2026Article
- The Influence of TDP1 Inhibitor Usnic Acid Derivative OL9-116 on the Effects of Topotecan in Human Cells.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Article
- PVP-Stabilized Ag@SiOInternational journal of nanomedicine · 2026Article
- Natural product as a lead for impairing mitochondrial respiration in cancer cells.Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry · 2025Article
- Comprehensive Evaluation of Usnic Acid as a Potential Drug Candidate for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Insights from Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and In Vivo Analyses.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Targeting heat shock protein 90 with usnic acid relieves immune suppression via aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated mechanisms in lung cancer.Molecular biomedicine · 2025Article
- Observational
- Transcriptomic Analysis of TDP1-Knockout HEK293A Cells Treated with the TDP1 Inhibitor (Usnic Acid Derivative).International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Development and Progression of Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- A Mechanistic Insight into the Anti-Staphylococcal Mode of Action of (+)-Usnic Acid and Its Synergy with Norfloxacin Against Methicillin-ResistantBiomolecules · 2025Article
- Synergistic Anti-tumorigenic Effects of Cabazitaxel and Usnic Acid Combination on Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells.Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry · 2025Article
- Hepatotoxicity of usnic acid and underlying mechanisms.Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Toxicology and carcinogenesis · 2025Review
- Antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects ofFrontiers in oncology · 2025Article
- Multifaceted Properties of Usnic Acid in Disrupting Cancer Hallmarks.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- Energy metabolism as the hub of advanced non-small cell lung cancer management: a comprehensive view in the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.The EPMA journal · 2024Review
- Evaluation of the Antifungal and Antiproliferative Properties of the LichenPharmaceutics · 2024Article
- Bioactivities and Structure-Activity Relationships of Usnic Acid Derivatives: A Review.Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry · 2024Review
- Predicting molecular mechanism of silymarin-potentiated diclofenac toxicity: Insight fromToxicology reports · 2023Article
- The pyrazole derivative of usnic acid inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.Cancer cell international · 2023Article
- Design, Characterization, and Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activities of Mucoadhesive Oral Patches Loaded withAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has a poor prognosis, in part due to poor therapeutic response and limited therapeutic alternatives. Lichens are symbiotic organisms, producing a variety of substances with multiple biological activities. (+)-Usnic acid, an important biologically active metabolite of lichens, has been shown to have high anti-cancer activity at low doses. However, there have been no reports regarding the effect of (+)-usnic acid on LUSC cells. This study found that (+)-usnic acid reduced viability and induced apoptosis in LUSC cells by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. (+)-Usnic acid induced mitochondria-derived ROS production via inhibition of complex I and complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC). Interestingly, the elimination of mitochondrial ROS by Mito-TEMPOL only partially reversed the effect of (+)-usnic acid on cellular ROS production. Further study showed that (+)-usnic acid also induced ROS production via reducing Nrf2 stability through disruption of the PI3K/Akt pathway. The in vitro and in vivo xenograft studies showed that combined treatment of (+)-usnic acid and paclitaxel synergistically suppressed LUSC cells. In conclusion, this study indicates that (+)-usnic acid induces apoptosis of LUSC cells through ROS accumulation, probably via disrupting the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) and the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway. Therefore, although clinical use of (+)-usnic acid will be limited due to toxicity issues, derivatives thereof may turn out as promising anticancer candidates for adjuvant treatment of LUSC.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.