Duchesnea indica extract attenuates oral cancer cells metastatic potential through the inhibition of the matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity by down-regulating the MEK/ERK pathway.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke, an herb in folk medicine used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine, has cytostatic properties as well as antioxidant and antimetastasis activities in various cancer cells. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of Duchesnea indica extracts (DIEs) on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastases remain unclear.

PURPOSE:

In this study, we posit the hypothesis that DIE possesses antimetastatic effects on human OSCC cells.

METHODS:

The effects of DIE on cell viability, motility, migration, and invasion were investigated. Gelatin zymography, Western blotting, migration and invasion assays were used to further study the underlying mechanisms involved in the antimetastatic effects of DIE in OSCC cells.

RESULTS:

The results from MTT assay revealed that DIE did not affect the cell viability of OSCC cells. Moreover, DIE significantly attenuated OSCC cells' motility, migration, and invasion by reducing the MMP-2 protein expression and MMP-2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, DIE reduced the phosphorylation of both ERK1/2 and its upstream kinase but had no effect on the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK.

CONCLUSION:

DIE triggers the antimetastatic activity in OSCC cells by suppressing the MMP-2 activity via the MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Therefore, these findings are promising for the use of DIE antimetastatic activity in oral cancer metastasis treatment.

• Authors: Wei-En Yang, Yung-Chuan Ho, Cheng-Ming Tang, Yih-Shou Hsieh, Pei-Ni Chen, Chih-Ting Lai, Shun-Fa Yang, Chiao-Wen Lin
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 63 Pg. 152960 (Oct 2019) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 31280137 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
• Plant Extracts
• MMP2 protein, human
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 2

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Down-Regulation (drug effects)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (metabolism)
• Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Mouth Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Rosaceae (chemistry)