RESUMO
Aim To investigate the molecular mechanisms and inhibitory effect of honokiol (HNK) on the proliferation of colon cancer SW620 cells. Methods Crystal violet staining, flow cytometry and Western blot assays were used to for the detection of the effect of HNK on inhibiting the proliferation and promoting apoptosis on SW620 cells. Western blot was used to study the effect of HNK on the protein levels of TGF-β1 and analyze the effect of HNK on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, as well as the effect of HNK combined with exogenous adenoviruses of TGF-β1 and its inhibitor on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in SW620 cells. Western blot was also used to analyze the effect of HNK on the phosphorylation of YAP and analyze the possible relationship between HNK phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and YAP. Results HNK significantly inhibited the proliferation of SW620 cells and induced apoptosis, and up-regulated the expression levels of TGF-β1. Western blotting showed that HNK up-regu- lated the expression levels of phosphorylated p38 in SW620 cells. Meanwhile, HNK increased the protein levels of phosphorylated YAP. The exogenous adenoviruses of TGF-β1 and its inhibitor significantly enhanced or inhibited this effect, respectively. Conclusions HNK has obvious antiproliferative effect, which might be due to the up-regulation of TGF- (31 expression and up-regulation of phosphorylated YAP expression by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
RESUMO
Aim To investigate the effects of berberine on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human liver cancer HepG2 cells induced by transforming growth factor-pi ( TGF-pl ) and its mechanism. Methods MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation activity of berberine on HepG2 cells. After 10 ng • L"1 TGF-pl was used to induce EMT model process of HepG2 cells, berberine was added to treat HepG2 cells. Colony formation, cell scratch and Transwell assays were used to detect the clonogenic, migratory and invasive capabilities of HepG2 cells. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the expression of EMT mesenchymal marker Vimentin. Western blot assay was used to detect the proteins expression of EMT marker (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail), matrix metallopro-teinase ( MMP-2), TGF-p/Smad pathway (Smad2, p-Smad2, Smad3, p-Smad3) in HepG2 cells. Results Berberine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration-time dependent manner. Compared with TGF-pl group, berberine could significantly inhibit the abilities of colony formation, migration and invasion of HepG2 cells. Berberine could significandy inhibit the expression of E-cadherin protein up-regula-ted by TGF-pl, and N-cadherin, Vimentin;, Snail, MMP-2, p-Smad2, p-Smad2 proteins expression down-regulated by TGF-pl. Conclusions Berberine may interfere with the EMT process of HepG2 cells induced by TGF-pl by inhibiting the TGF-p/Smad 'signaling pathway to inhibit the HepG2 cell migration and invasion.