ABSTRACT
Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in several plant species like famous chinese herb, Rhizoma coptidis which has been used locally as a strong gastrointestinal remedy for thousands of years. The inhibitory effects of berberine on tumor progression properties have been reported before. In this study, we investigated the effect of berberine on an esophageal cancer cell line, KYSE-30 with emphasis on its effects on the expression of certain chemokine receptors. The cytotoxic effect of berberine on KYSE-30 cells was analyzed by MTT assay. In vitro cell migration assay was also applied to the treated cells and the expression levels of the selected chemokine receptors (CXCR4 and CCR7) was measured at mRNA level. A retarded growth, associated with increasing concentrations of berberine, was obvious. On the other hand, the migration rate of the cells was decreased when they were treated with different concentrations of berberine and the expression levels of the two chemokine receptors, involved in the migration and metastasis of esophageal cancer cells, were decreased following the same treatments. With these results, we tend to conclude that berberine might be a proper candidate for further investigations, by targeting the chemokine receptors, and possible applications as anti-metastatic agent in cancer studies.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Berberine/pharmacology , Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , RNA, Messenger/antagonists & inhibitors , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification , Berberine/isolation & purification , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Epithelial Cells/pathology , Esophagus/drug effects , Esophagus/metabolism , Esophagus/pathology , Humans , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Receptors, CCR7/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, CCR7/genetics , Receptors, CCR7/metabolism , Receptors, CXCR4/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, CXCR4/genetics , Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: HTLV-1 infection is endemic in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran. This study was designed to assess the epidemiology of HTLV-1 and potential risk factors in Neyshabour, Northeastern Iran. METHODS: All those who referred to Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR)- Mashhad Laboratory in Neyshabour for evaluation of HTLV-I by ELISA, were tested using WB if the ELISA result was positive. A questionnaire about risk factors of infection was completed for all cases. RESULTS: HTLV-1 infection was positive in 7.2% (35/483) of the participants according to the results of enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB) tests. Infection was significantly associated with age, family size, income and blood transfusion. However, gender, education, birthplace, race, marital status, and history of surgery, dentistry, traditional cupping, and hospitalization showed no significant relation. CONCLUSION: It seems that HTLV-I infection is highly endemic in Neyshabour and it is seems that more effective treatment strategies are needed.