Diosgenin inhibits the migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by suppressing Vav2 activity.

Abstract

Diosgenin, a naturally occurring steroidal saponin, possess tumor therapeutic potential. However, the effect of diosgenin on cancer metastasis remains poorly understood. In this study, we performed in vitro experiments to investigate the inhibitory activity of diosgenin on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell migration, and reveal the possible mechanism. Diosgenin caused a marked inhibition of cell migration in MDA-MB-231 cell by transwell assay. In addition, diosgenin significantly impacted MDA-MB-231 cell migratory behavior under real-time observation. We also found diosgenin significantly inhibited actin polymerization, Vav2 phosphorylation and Cdc42 activation, which might be, at least in part, attributed to the anti-metastatic potential of diosgenin. These findings reveal a new therapeutic potential of diosgenin for human breast cancer metastasis therapy.

• Authors: Zhongmei He, Hongyan Chen, Guofeng Li, Hongyan Zhu, Yugang Gao, Lianxue Zhang, Jiaming Sun
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 21 Issue 6 Pg. 871-6 (May 15 2014) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 24656238 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Actins
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Plant Extracts
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav
• VAV2 protein, human
• Diosgenin

Topics

• Actins (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Dioscorea (chemistry)
• Diosgenin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Phosphorylation
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav (metabolism)