Suppression of human breast cancer cells by tectorigenin through downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and MAPK signaling in�vitro

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major life‑threatening malignancy and is the second highest cause of mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of tectorigenin (Tec), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, against human breast cancer cells in vitro. MDA‑MB‑231 and MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells were treated with various concentrations of Tec. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the Cell Counting kit‑8 assay, and apoptosis and the cell cycle were examined by flow cytometry. The migratory and invasive abilities of these cells were detected by Transwell and Matrigel assays, respectively. Metastasis‑, apoptosis‑ and survival‑related gene expression levels were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The results indicated that Tec was able to inhibit the proliferation of MDA‑MB‑231 and MCF‑7 cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Furthermore, Tec treatment induced apoptosis and G0/G1‑phase arrest, and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Tec treatment decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2, MMP9, BCL‑2, phosphorylated‑AKT and components of the mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and increased the expression of BCL‑2‑associated X, cleaved poly [ADP‑ribose] polymerase and cleaved caspase‑3. In conclusion, Tec treatment suppressed human breast cancer cells through the downregulation of AKT and MAPK signaling and the upregulated expression and/or activity of the caspase family in vitro. Therefore, Tec may be a potential therapeutic drug to treat human breast cancer.

Tectorigenin protects against experimental fulminant hepatic failure by regulating the TLR4/mitogen‐activated protein kinase and TLR4/nuclear factor‐κB pathways and autophagy

“…Tectorigenin (Tec; Figure a), a component of Belamcanda Adans, has antiproliferation, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant activities (Wang et al, ). Presently, the main studies on Tec have focused on its antitumor effects via the NF‐κB and MAPK pathways (Yang et al, ; Zeng et al, ). Tec was also reported to demonstrate a protective effect on acute lung injury (Ma, Liu, Qu, & Ma, ) and hepatoprotective effects in models of chemical and oxidative damage (H. U. Lee, Bae, & Kim, ; H. W. Lee, Choo, Bae, & Kim, ).…”

Downregulation of MMP-9 Enhances the Anti-Migratory Effect of Cyclophosphamide in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines

“…Wu et al noticed that natural herbal flavonoid—luteolin suppresses triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by the downregulation of MMP-9 expression via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway [ 23 ]. On the other hand, Zeng et al indicated the reduction of MMP-9 levels in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells after treatment with tectorigenin [ 24 ]. Furthermore, piceatannol inhibits the invasion of breast cancer cells through the PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways and inhibition of MMP-9 [ 25 ].…”

Tectorigenin: A Review of Its Sources, Pharmacology, Toxicity, and Pharmacokinetics

“…MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and T-47D are three commonly used breast cancer cells as models for breast tumors [77]. Zeng et al (2018) [78] found that tectorigenin suppressed MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation both in a dose-and time-dependent manner. The mechanisms of tectorigenin on human breast cancer cell apoptosis and metastasis might owe to the downregulation of protein kinase B (AKT)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and upregulation of the expression of the caspase family.…”