Naringenin in Si-Ni-San formula inhibits chronic psychological stress-induced breast cancer growth and metastasis by modulating estrogen metabolism through FXR/EST pathway

Highlights

• Chronic psychological stress promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis.

• Chronic psychological stress results in elevation of cholic acid and estradiol via FXR/HNF4α/EST signaling.

• SNS promotes estradiol metabolized into estradiol-3-O-sulfate.

• Naringenin is identified as a natural EST agonist with liver targeting ability.

• Naringenin inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis via modulating FXR/HNF4α/EST signaling.

Abstract

Introduction

Chronic psychological stress is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer development. Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula prescribed to psychological disorder patients. However, its action effects, molecular mechanisms, and bioactive phytochemicals against breast cancer are not yet clear.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the modulatory mechanism and bioactive compound of SNS in regulating estrogen metabolism during breast cancer development induced by chronic psychological stress.

Methods

Mouse breast cancer xenograft was used to determine the effect of SNS on breast cancer growth and metastasis. Metabolomics analysis was conducted to discover the impact of SNS on metabolic profile changes in vivo. Multiple molecular biology experiments and breast cancer xenografts were applied to verify the anti-metastatic potentials of the screened bioactive compound.

Results

SNS remarkably inhibited chronic psychological stress-induced breast cancer growth and metastasis in the mouse breast cancer xenograft. Meanwhile, chronic psychological stress increased the level of cholic acid, accompanied by the elevation of estradiol. Mechanistic investigation demonstrated that cholic acid activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) expression, which inhibited hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α)-mediated estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) transcription in hepatocytes, and finally resulting in estradiol elevation. Notably, SNS inhibited breast cancer growth by suppressing estradiol level via modulating FXR/EST signaling. Furthermore, luciferase-reporting gene assay screened naringenin as the most bioactive compound in SNS for triggering EST activity in hepatocytes. Interestingly, pharmacokinetic study revealed that naringenin had the highest absorption in the liver tissue. Following in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that naringenin inhibited stress-induced breast cancer growth and metastasis by promoting estradiol metabolism via FXR/EST signaling.

Conclusion

This study not only highlights FXR/EST signaling as a crucial target in mediating stress-induced breast cancer development, but also provides naringenin as a potential candidate for breast cancer endocrine therapy via promoting estradiol metabolism.