TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of autophagy in anti-cancer and health promoting effects of cordycepin
AU - Chen, Yu Ying
AU - Chen, Chun Hsien
AU - Lin, Wei Chen
AU - Tung, Chih Wei
AU - Chen, Yung Chia
AU - Yang, Shang Hsun
AU - Huang, Bu Miin
AU - Chen, Rong Jane
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 110-2314-B-006-033-MY3 to RJC, MOST 110-2314-B-006-025-MY3 to B.-M.H., MOST 108-2314-B-006-079-MY3 to S.-H.Y., and MOST 110-2628-B-006-032 to W.-C.L.). This research was also supported in part by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, R.O.C., the Aim for the Top University Project to the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/8/2
Y1 - 2021/8/2
N2 - Cordycepin is an adenosine derivative isolated from Cordyceps sinensis, which has been used as an herbal complementary and alternative medicine with various biological activities. The general anti-cancer mechanisms of cordycepin are regulated by the adenosine A3 receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, leading to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Notably, cordycepin also induces autophagy to trigger cell death, inhibits tumor metastasis, and modulates the immune system. Since the dysregulation of autophagy is associated with cancers and neuron, immune, and kidney diseases, cordycepin is considered an alternative treatment because of the involvement of cordycepin in autophagic signaling. However, the profound mechanism of autophagy induction by cordycepin has never been reviewed in detail. Therefore, in this article, we reviewed the anti-cancer and healthpromoting effects of cordycepin in the neurons, kidneys, and the immune system through diverse mechanisms, including autophagy induction. We also suggest that formulation changes for cordycepin could enhance its bioactivity and bioavailability and lower its toxicity for future applications. A comprehensive understanding of the autophagy mechanism would provide novel mechanistic insight into the anti-cancer and health-promoting effects of cordycepin.
AB - Cordycepin is an adenosine derivative isolated from Cordyceps sinensis, which has been used as an herbal complementary and alternative medicine with various biological activities. The general anti-cancer mechanisms of cordycepin are regulated by the adenosine A3 receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, leading to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Notably, cordycepin also induces autophagy to trigger cell death, inhibits tumor metastasis, and modulates the immune system. Since the dysregulation of autophagy is associated with cancers and neuron, immune, and kidney diseases, cordycepin is considered an alternative treatment because of the involvement of cordycepin in autophagic signaling. However, the profound mechanism of autophagy induction by cordycepin has never been reviewed in detail. Therefore, in this article, we reviewed the anti-cancer and healthpromoting effects of cordycepin in the neurons, kidneys, and the immune system through diverse mechanisms, including autophagy induction. We also suggest that formulation changes for cordycepin could enhance its bioactivity and bioavailability and lower its toxicity for future applications. A comprehensive understanding of the autophagy mechanism would provide novel mechanistic insight into the anti-cancer and health-promoting effects of cordycepin.
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U2 - 10.3390/molecules26164954
DO - 10.3390/molecules26164954
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34443541
AN - SCOPUS:85115044489
VL - 26
JO - Molecules
JF - Molecules
SN - 1420-3049
IS - 16
M1 - 4954
ER -