@article{Yan2025, 
author = {Lili Yan and Yanfen Liu and Yufei Huang and Xiaoyu Sun and Haiyang Jiang and Jie Gu and Jing Xia and Xueni Sun and Xinbing Sui},
title = {Erianin inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells by suppressing mTOR activation and disrupting pyrimidine metabolism},
year = {2025},
journal = {Cancer Biology & Medicine},
volume = {22},
number = {2},
pages = {144-165},
keywords = {Erianin, anti-cancer property, lung cancer, mTOR, pyrimidine metabolism},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0385},
doi = {10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0385},
abstract = {ObjectiveErianin has potential anticancer activities, especially against lung cancer. The specific mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects, including the molecular targets and signaling pathways in lung cancer, remain poorly understood and necessitate further investigation.MethodsLung cancer cell viability was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effects of erianin on apoptosis and cell cycle progression. mRNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis were utilized to explore erianin-induced biological changes. Potential targets were identified and validated through molecular docking and Western blot analysis. The roles of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase (CAD) in erianin-induced growth inhibition were studied using gene overexpression/knockdown techniques with uridine and aspartate supplementation confirming pyrimidine metabolism involvement. Additionally, lung cancer-bearing nude mouse models were established to evaluate the anti-lung cancer effects of erianin in vivo.ResultsErianin significantly inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells, induces apoptosis, and causes G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Integrative analysis of mRNA sequencing and metabolomics data demonstrated that erianin disrupts pyrimidine metabolism in lung cancer cells. Notably, uridine supplementation mitigated the inhibitory effects of erianin, establishing a connection between pyrimidine metabolism and anticancer activity. Network pharmacology analyses identified mTOR as a key target of erianin. Erianin inhibited mTOR phosphorylation, thereby blocking downstream effectors (S6K and CAD), which are essential regulators of pyrimidine metabolism.ConclusionsErianin is a promising therapeutic candidate for lung cancer. Erianin likely inhibits lung cancer cell growth by disrupting pyrimidine metabolism by suppressing mTOR activation.}
}