Thymoquinone suppresses cell growth and induces ferroptosis in renal cell carcinoma by reducing SERPINH1 expression

Abstract

Background Thymoquinone (TQ) plays an important role in regulating cell behaviors of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death involved in cancer repression. Herein, the effect of TQ on ferroptosis and its association with serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) were investigated. Methods Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot were adopted for mRNA and protein detection. Cell growth was assessed by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry was performed for apoptosis examination. Transwell assay was used to measure cell migration and invasion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and Fe2+ were determined by the corresponding kits. Results SERPINH1 was an up-regulated gene in RCC. Silence of SERPINH1 blocked RCC cell growth, migration and invasion but induced apoptosis and ferroptosis. TQ could target SERPINH1 and down-regulated the expression of SERPINH1. TQ suppressed cell viability and facilitated ferroptosis, which was attributed to level inhibition of SERPINH1. Conclusion These results disclosed that TQ acted on SERPINH1 to down-regulate its expression, consequently hindering cell progression and motivating ferroptosis in RCC. SERPINH1 may be a biological marker in the treatment of TQ for RCC by targeting ferroptosis.