Curcumin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of human esophageal cancer KYSE70 cells / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of curcumin on transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)- induced epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of human esophageal cancer cell line KYSE70. Methods: The proliferation of KYSE70 cells after treatment with different concentrations of curcumin for 12, 24, 48 and 72 h was detected by CCK-8 assay. After treatment with curcumin (20 μmol/L), TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL), and the combination of curcumin (20 μmol/L) and TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL), the morphology of KYSE70 cells was observed under an optical microscope, the invasion ability was measured by Transwell chamber assay, the cell cycle distribution was analyzed by FCM, and the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin mRNAs and proteins were determined by real-Time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: The proliferation of KYSE70 cells was inhibited by treatment with different concentrations of curcumin for different time (all P < 0.01). The KYSE70 cells transformed into mesenchymal cells with typical spindle-shape after treatment with TGF-β1, but this transformation could be suppressed by curcumin. The percentage of KYSE70 cells at G0/G1 phase in TGF-β1 treatment group was lower than that in the control group (KYSE70 cells without any treatment) (P = 0.021). The percentage of KYSE70 cells at S phase in the combination treatment group was higher than that in TGF-β1 treatment group (P < 0.001), and the percentage of cells at G2/M phase was lower than that in TGF-β1 treatment group (P < 0.001). The number of the invasive cells in TGF-β1 treatment group was larger than that in the control group (P < 0.001). The number of the invasive cells in curcumin treatment group was smaller than that that in the control group (P < 0.001). The number of the invasive cells in combination treatment group was smaller than that in TGF-β1 treatment group (P < 0.001). The expression levels of E-cadherin mRNA (P = 0.045) and protein (P = 0.008) in TGF-β1 treatment group were lower than those in the control group. The expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin mRNAs (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively) and proteins (both P < 0.001) were higher than those in the control group. The expression levels of E-cadherin mRNA (P = 0.005) and protein (P = 0.006) in combination treatment group were higher than those in TGF-β1 treatment group. The expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin mRNAs (P = 0.010 and P < 0.001, respectively) and proteins (both P < 0.001) in combination treatment group were lower than those in TGF-β1 treatment group. Conclusion: Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer KYSE70 cells, and suppress the EMT.