Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40402956›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Silencing NRF2 enhances arsenic trioxide-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Mi Huang, Duanzhuo Li, Zhengzhen Xia, Shengjie Liao, Wenxia Si, Chao Yuan, Yanli Liao, Weibin Wu, Minshu Jiang, Xin Yu and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Mi HuangDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Duanzhuo LiDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Zhengzhen XiaDepartment of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Zhaoqing Affiliated to Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Shengjie LiaoDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Wenxia SiDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Chao YuanDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Yanli LiaoDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Weibin WuDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Minshu JiangThe First Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Xin YuDepartment of Scientific Research and Experiment Center, Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Yi QuanDepartment of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Zhaoqing Affiliated to Zhaoqing Medical College, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7454-7437

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with high mortality rates partially due to limited therapeutic options and drug resistance. Arsenic trioxide (ATO), a compound clinically proven for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), has garnered attention for its emerging efficacy in solid tumors, including HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms driving ATO's antitumor activity in HCC remain incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the ferroptosis-dependent effects of ATO on HCC and and propose a potential therapeutic strategy.

methodsThe response of HCC cells to ATO was evaluated using cell viability, wound healing, colony formation, Transwell migration assays, and cell cycle analysis. ATO-induced ferroptosis was assessed by measuring lipid peroxidation (via C11-BODIPY staining), intracellular iron levels, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Western blotting was performed to quantify protein levels of NRF2, HO-1, SLC7A11, and GPX4; immunofluorescence staining was employed to determine NRF2 subcellular localization.

resultsATO exhibited significant cytotoxicity and inhibited the progression of HCC cells. Treatment with ATO resulted in a notable increase in lipid ROS and MDA levels, which were subsequently reversed by the ferroptosis inhibitors Fer-1 and DFO. Mechanistically, ATO induced ferroptosis by inhibiting GPX4. Furthermore, NRF2 and its downstream targets, HO-1 and SLC7A11, were upregulated during ferroptosis. NRF2 knockdown enhanced lipid peroxidation and ATO-induced cell death.

conclusionsATO significantly promoted ferroptosis in HCC cells, and NRF2 knockdown enhanced the cytotoxic effects of ATO.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsArsenic TrioxideCarcinoma, HepatocellularFerroptosisLiver NeoplasmsNF-E2-Related Factor 2Amino Acid Transport System y+Cell Line, TumorCell SurvivalGene SilencingHeme Oxygenase-1HumansLipid PeroxidationPhospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione PeroxidaseAmino Acid Transport System y+Antineoplastic AgentsArsenic TrioxideHeme Oxygenase-1NFE2L2 protein, humanNF-E2-Related Factor 2Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione PeroxidaseSLC7A11 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID40402956
PMCPMC12097587

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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.