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- Title
Bufalin, a component in Chansu, inhibits proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
- Authors
Dong-Ze Qiu; Zhou-Ji Zhang; Wei-Zhong Wu; Yun-Ke Yang
- Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive cancer, and the treatment options are limited for patients with advanced HCC. Bufalin, the major digoxin-like component of the traditional Chinese medicine Chansu, exhibits significant anti-tumor activities in many tumor cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the effect of bufalin on the inhibition of an AKT-related signaling pathway, and examined the relationship between regulatory proteins and anti-tumor effects in hepatoma cells. Methods: Proliferation, wound healing, transwell-migration/invasion and adhesion assays were performed in HCCLM3 and HepG2 cell lines. The protein levels of pAKT, AKT, pGSK3β, GSK3β, pβ-catenin, β-catenin, E-cadherin, MMP-9, and MMP-2 were measured by western blot analysis. E-Cadherin and β-catenin expression levels were also evaluated by immunofluorescence. Results: Bufalin inhibited hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion and adhesion. In addition, treatment with bufalin significantly decreased the levels of pAKT, pGSK3β, MMP-9, and MMP-2, while increasing the levels of GSK3β and E-cadherin and suppressing the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Conclusions: Bufalin is a potential anti-HCC therapeutic candidate through its inhibition of the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin/ E-cadherin signaling pathway. Further studies with bufalin are warranted in patients with HCC, especially those with the disease at advanced stages.
- Subjects
CHINA; DIGOXIN; CELL culture; CELL migration; HEPATOCELLULAR carcinoma; CHINESE medicine; MICROBIOLOGICAL assay; RESEARCH funding; WESTERN immunoblotting; QUANTITATIVE research; DATA analysis software; FLUOROIMMUNOASSAY; IN vitro studies; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2013, Vol 13, Issue 1, p185
- ISSN
1472-6882
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/1472-6882-13-185