Antitumor effects of saikosaponin b2 on breast cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Abstract

Saikosaponin b2 (SSb2) can be extracted from Bupleurum spp. roots (Radix Bupleuri), which belongs to the Umbelliferae family. The current study aimed to explore the effects of SSb2 on proliferation of breast cancer cells and to identify the mechanism by which SSb2 affects breast cancer cell migration. mRNA expression levels of STAT3 and vasodilator‑stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) were determined and increased expression was observed in 16 breast cancer tissues compared with the paracancerous tissues. MTT, wound healing, colony formation assays and western blot suggested that SSb2 inhibited MCF‑7 proliferation and migration. It was further identified by western blot analysis that SSb2 treatment reduced levels of phosphorylated STAT3, VASP, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 in MCF‑7 compared with the untreated cells. In addition, it was demonstrated that inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation decreased VASP expression levels and induction of STAT3 phosphorylation increased VASP levels. Furthermore, it was observed that the treatment of Kunming mice with SSb2 at 30 mg/kg/day for 30 days induced no obvious changes in the liver or kidney tissues, as determined by haematoxylin and eosin staining. In conclusion, these results indicated that SSb2 may be a potential antitumor drug for the treatment of breast cancer, which acts by suppressing proliferation and migration by downregulating the STAT3 signalling pathway and inhibiting the expression of VASP, MMP2 and MMP9 expression.

• Authors: Qing Ma, Fang-Fang Gao, Xin He, Kai Li, Yang Gao, Xiao-Long Xu, Nan-Hui Jiang, Liang Ding, Wen-Jing Song, Yan-Qi He, Wen-Ting Pan, Lei Wei, Jing-Wei Zhang
• Journal: Molecular medicine reports (Mol Med Rep) Vol. 20 Issue 2 Pg. 1943-1951 (Aug 2019) ISSN: 1791-3004 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 31257464 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Microfilament Proteins
• Phosphoproteins
• STAT3 Transcription Factor
• STAT3 protein, human
• Saponins
• vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein
• Oleanolic Acid
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
• saikosaponin D

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Animals
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (genetics)
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• MCF-7 Cells
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (genetics)
• Mice
• Microfilament Proteins (genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Oleanolic Acid (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Phosphoproteins (genetics)
• STAT3 Transcription Factor (genetics)
• Saponins (pharmacology)
• Young Adult