ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide （APS） on epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） induced by transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） in cisplatin （DDP）-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549/DDP cells transplanted into nude mice and the molecular mechanism in improving DDP resistance. MethodBALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， a DDP group， and a combination group （APS combined with DDP）. A549/DDP cells were infected with TGF-β1-overexpressed lentiviral vector and the negative control. The infected cells were inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice. The A549/DDP cells with TGF-β1 gene overexpression were inoculated into all groups except the control group with negative TGF-β1 gene overexpression. The drug intervention was performed eight days after cell inoculation. The mice in the combination group received intragastric administration of APS （0.3 g·kg-1·d-1） and intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin （0.003 5 g·kg-1）， and those in the cisplatin group received intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin （0.003 5 g·kg-1）. After 32 days of cell inoculation， the nude mice were killed and the tumor tissues and lungs were collected. The tumor weight was recorded and the inhibition rate was calculated. The number of metastatic nodules of the lung tumor on the whole slide was counted under the microscope. Immunohistochemistry， Western blot， and real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were used to detect the protein and gene expression of EMT molecular markers α-catenin and N-cadherin， and tumor drug resistance markers human lung resistance protein （LRP）， multidrug resistance-associated protein （MRP）， and P-glycoprotein （P-gp） in the transplanted tumor. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed increased tumor weight and metastatic nodules of the lung tumor （P<0.05）， decreased protein and mRNA expression of α-catenin （P<0.05）， and elevated protein and mRNA expression of N-cadherin， LRP， MRP， and P-gp （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group and the cisplatin group， the combination group showed reduced tumor weight and metastatic nodules of the lung tumor （P<0.05）， increased protein and mRNA expression of α-catenin （P<0.05）， and decreased protein and mRNA expression of N-cadherin， LRP， MRP， and P-gp （P<0.05）. ConclusionAPS can inhibit the growth and metastasis of the transplanted tumor of lung adenocarcinoma and improve cisplatin resistance， which may be related to the inhibition of EMT of tumor cells.
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Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of spleen-strengthening traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） Weichang'an granule in inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of human gastric cancer MKN45 cells. Method:MKN45 cells were cultured <italic>in vitro</italic> and incubated with different concentrations（600， 900， 1 200， 1 500 mg·L<sup>-1</sup>）of Weichang'an granule for 24， 48， 72 h. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect its effect on the cell proliferation. Western blot was used to detect the expression of RUN and FYVE domain containing 3（RUFY3） in normal gastric mucosa cells and different gastric cancer cell lines. The expression of RUFY3 in the gastric cancer cells after Weichang'an granule intervention （600， 900， 1 200 mg·L<sup>-1</sup>） was detected by Western blot. Lentivirus transfection technique was used to achieve the stable and silenced expression of RUFY3 in gastric cancer MKN45 cells. Transwell assay was used to evaluate the influence of Weichang'an granule and silenced RUFY3 on the metastasis and invasion ability of MKN45. E-cadherin，N-cadherin，Vimentin，Zinc-finger transcription factor （SNAIL1 and SNAIL2） protein expression levels were detected by Western blot. Result:RUFY3 expression in human gastric cancer cells was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa．The protein expression of RUFY3 in MKN45 cells of silenced RUFY3 group was significantly lower than that in Lentivirus negative group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）． Weichang'an granule inhibited the expression of RUFY3 in human MKN45 gastric cancer cells （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01） in a concentration-dependent manner. As compared with the blank group， both Weichang'an granule and silenced RUFY3 inhibited the metastasis and invasion ability of MKN45 （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. After Weichang'an granule and silenced RUFY3 treatment， the protein expression of epithelial marker gene E-cadherin was up-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the protein expression of Vimentin and N-cadherin decreased， but with no statistical difference，while SNAIL1 and SNAIL2 were both significantly down-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:By targeting RUFY3 to regulate epithelial mesenchymal transformation， the spleen-strengthening TCM compound Weichang'an granule can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.
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Objective:To study the effect of icaritin on the proliferation， apoptosis， migration and invasion of human epithelial ovarian cancer A2780 cells and the inhibitory mechanism of icaritin against cell invasion and migration via the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation （EMT）-related molecule expression. Method:A2780 cells were divided into the blank control group and low-， medium-， and high-dose （5， 10， 20 μmol·L<sup>-1</sup>） icaritin groups and received the corresponding inventions for 48 h. Cell proliferation and viability were detected using the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8）. The cellular proliferation inhibition and apoptosis rates were assayed by flow cytometry. The cell invasion and migration were observed in Scratch test and transwell test， followed by the calculation of wound healing rate and migration rate. The protein and mRNA expression levels of EMT-related molecules including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and Vimentin and tumor invasion and migration-related molecule matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） were measured by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Result:As revealed by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry， compared with the blank control group， the icaritin groups all exhibited elevated proliferation inhibition rate （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and apoptosis rate （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. According to the Scratch test and transwell test， compared with the blank control group， the icaritin groups displayed weakened invasion and migration ability and decreased number and rate of cell invasion and migration （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Western blot and Real-time PCR results showed that the protein and mRNA expression levels of N-cadherin， MMP-9 and Vimentin in each icaritin group were down-regulated as compared with those in the blank control group， while the expression of E-cadherin was up-regulated. Conclusion:Icaritin inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of human ovarian cancer A2780 cells， and it inhibits the invasion and migration of A2780 cells possibly by regulating the expression of EMT-related molecules.
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@# Objective: To investigate the effect of high expression of TET1 catalytic domain (TET1-CD) gene on the proliferation and migration of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and its underlying mechanism. Methods: MDA-MB-231 cell line with high TET1-CD expression was established by lentiviral transfection. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of TET1-CD. Transwell assay and cell scratch assay were used to detect cell migration ability, MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to detect cell proliferation capacity. And WB was adopted to detect the expressions of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP2) and Wnt, Hedgehog pathway-related proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells. Results: The MDA-MB-231 cell line with high TET1-CD expression was successfully constructed (all P<0.01). TET1-CD over-expression significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.01); in addition, TET1-CD over-expression increased the expression of E-cadherin, but down-regulated the expressions of Vimentin, MMP2, β-catenin, Gli1, C-myc and CyclinD1 (all P<0.05). Conclusion: TET1-CD may inhibit the proliferation and migration of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting the EMT through Wnt and HH signaling pathway.
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@#Objective:To explore the mechanism by which SRY-related high mobility group-box 9 (SOX9) promotes the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Methods: The human NSCLCA549 cell line was divided into three groups: OE-NC group, OE-SOX9 group and OE-SOX9+XAV-939 group. The cells in OESOX9 group were transfected with SOX9 pcDNA plasmid to up-regulate the expression level of SOX9; The cells in OE-SOX9+XAV939 group were transfected with SOX9 pcDNA plasmid while the β-catenin inhibitor XAV-939 (1.0 μmol/L) was added to the medium. qPCR was used to detect SOX9 mRNA levels; CCK-8 was used to examine the proliferation of A549 cells; Wound-healing assay and Transwell chamber assay were used to detect the migration and invasion ofA549 cells, respectively; and WB was used to detect protein expressions of SOX9, β-catenin, E-cadherin, γ-catenin, N-cadherin and vimentin. Results: The mRNA and protein levels of SOX9 in OE-SOX9 group and OE-SOX9+XAV-939 group were significantly higher than those in the OE-NC group after transfection (all P< 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the OE-SOX9 group and the OE-SOX9+XAV-939 group (P>0.05). The proliferation, migration and invasion of cells in OE-SOX9 group were significantly higher than those in OE-NC group; however, those abilities in OE-SOX9+XAV-939 group were significantly lower than those in OE-SOX9 group (all P<0.05). The level of β-catenin protein in OE-SOX9 group was significantly higher than that in the OE-NC group, while the level of β-catenin protein in OE-SOX9+XAV-939 group was lower than that in OE-SOX9 group (all P<0.05). Compared with the OE-NC group, the levels of phenotypic markers of epithelial cells, E-cadherin and γ-catenin, were down-regulated, and the phenotypic markers of mesenchymal cells, N-cadherin and vimentin, were up-regulated in cells of OE-SOX9 group; however, E-cadherin and γ-catenin were higher, and N-cadherin and vimentin were lower in OE-SOX9+XAV-939 group than those in OE-SOX9 group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: SOX9 could promote proliferation, migration and EMT of NSCLCA549 cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. ··
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Objective • To establish the transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model of retinal pigment epithelium cells, and investigate the effect and mechanism of lutein on EMT. Methods • ARPE-19 cells were cultured and divided into 4 groups including control group, TGF-β2 group, TGF-β2+lutein group and lutein group. The mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN) and E-cadherin were analyzed by real-time PCR. The protein expression of α-SMA, FN and occludin were assayed by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the change of α-SMA. Meanwhile, Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of pSmad3 in the TGF/Smad signaling pathway. Results • TGF-β2 induced EMT was inhibited by lutein. Lutein decreased the mRNA and protein levels of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and FN, and increased the expression of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and occludin (all P<0.05). Immunofluorescence showed that lutein can inhibit the conversion of epithelial cells into myofibroblasts. Lutein significantly downregulated the high expression of pSmad3 in TGF-β2 treated ARPE-19 cells (P=0.001). Conclusion • Lutein inhibits TGF-β2 induced EMT by downregulating the expression of pSmad3 in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, indicating it may attenuate subretinal fibrosis.