Interfering with the AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling axis with usenamine A restrains the proliferative and invasive potential of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Abstract Background Usenamine A, a novel natural compound initially isolated from the lichen Usnea longissima, has exhibited promising efficacy against hepatoma in prior investigation. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for its antihepatoma effects remain unclear. Furthermore, the role of the AKT/mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding 1 (ID1) signaling axis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the potential anti-HCC effects of drugs targeting this pathway are not well understood. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to investigate the effects of usenamine A on the proliferation of human HCC cells. Moreover, the effects of usenamine A on the invasion ability of human HCC cells were evaluated by transwell assay. In addition, expression profiling analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis, RNAi, immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were used to explore the effects of usenamine A on the newly identified AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling axis in human HCC cells. Results Usenamine A inhibited the proliferation and invasion of human HCC cell lines (HepG2 and SK-HEP-1). Through the analysis of gene expression profiling, we identified that usenamine A suppressed the expression of ID1 in human HCC cells. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that usenamine A facilitated the degradation of the ID1 protein via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Moreover, usenamine A inhibited the activity of STAT3 in human HCC cells. ChIP analysis demonstrated that STAT3 positively regulated ID1 expression at the transcriptional level in human HCC cells. The STAT3/ID1 axis played a role in mediating the anti-proliferative and anti-invasive impacts of usenamine A on human HCC cells. Additionally, usenamine A suppressed the STAT3/ID1 axis through AKT/mTOR signaling in human HCC cells. Conclusion Usenamine A displayed robust anti-HCC potential, partly attributed to its capacity to downregulate the AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling pathway and promote ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated ID1 degradation. Usenamine A has the potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for HCC cases characterized by abnormal AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling, and targeting the AKT/mTOR/STAT3 signaling pathway may be a viable option for treating patients with HCC exhibiting elevated ID1 expression.