Matrine promotes apoptosis in SW480 colorectal cancer cells via elevating MIEF1‐related mitochondrial division in a manner dependent on LATS2‐Hippo pathway

Abstract Matrine, an alkaloid compound isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait , has been shown to exert cancer‐killing actions in a variety of tumors; however, its anticancer mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not clear. The goal of our study was to characterize the anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of matrine in SW480 CRC cells in vitro. Matrine treatment reduced mitochondrial metabolic function and ATP levels, repressed mitochondrial membrane potential, evoked mitochondrial reactive oxygen species accumulation, and promoted cyt‐c‐related mitochondrial apoptosis activation. In addition, we found that matrine treatment activated mitochondrial fission through upregulating mitochondrial elongation factor 1 (MIEF1); silencing of MIEF1 prevented matrine‐mediated mitochondrial damage and reversed the decrease in SW480 cell viability. Moreover, matrine treatment affected MIEF1 expression via the large tumor suppressor‐2 (LATS2)‐Hippo axis, and LATS2 deficiency suppressed the anticancer actions exerted by matrine on SW480 cancer cells. In summary, we show for the first time that matrine inhibits SW480 cell survival by activating MIEF1‐related mitochondrial division via the LATS2‐Hippo pathway. These findings explain the anticancer mechanisms of matrine in CRC and also identify the LATS2‐MIEF1 signaling pathway as an effective target for the treatment of CRC.