Cynaropicrin Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Inhibiting PKM2 to Cause DNA Damage and Mitochondrial Fission in A549 Cells

Metabolic reprogramming is critical for tumorigenesis. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is overexpressed in lung carcinoma cells and plays a critical role in the Warburg effect, making the enzyme a research hotspot for anticancer drug development. Cynaropicrin (CYN), a natural sesquiterpene lactone compound from artichoke, has received increasing consideration due to its consumable esteem and pharmacological properties. Our data reveal that CYN not only inhibited the purified PKM2 activity but also decreased the cellular PKM2 expression in A549 cells. The inhibition of PKM2 leads to the upregulation of p53 and the downregulation of the DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and subsequently causes the cell cycle arrest. Additionally, CYN inhibits the interaction of PKM2 and Nrf2, resulting in the impairment of cellular antioxidant capacity, induction of oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damages. Overexpression of PKM2 attenuates the CYN-induced DNA damage, mitochondrial fission, and cell viability. Thus, targeting PKM2 provides an original mechanism for understanding the pharmacological impact of CYN and assists in the further development of CYN as an anticancer agent.