Induction of Egr-1 Is Associated with Anti-Metastatic and Anti-Invasive Ability of β-Lapachone in Human Hepatocarcinoma Cells

Abstract

beta-lapachone, a quinone compound obtained from the bark of the lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae), was reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. In this study, we investigated novel functions of beta-lapachone in terms of anti-metastasis and anti-invasion abilities using human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. beta-lapachone dose-dependently inhibited cell viability and migration of both HepG2 and Hep3B cells, as determined by methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay and wound healing assay. RT-PCR and Western blot data revealed that beta-lapachone dramatically increased the levels of protein, as well as mRNA expression of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) and throbospondin-1 (TSP-1) at an early point in time, and then decreased in a time-dependent manner. In addition, down-regulation of Snail and up-regulation of E-cadherin expression were observed in beta-lapachone-treated HepG2 and Hep3B cells, and this the associated with decreased invasive ability as measured by matrigel invasion assay. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that beta-lapachone may be expected to inhibit the progression and metastasis of hepatoma cells, at least in part by inhibiting the invasive ability of the cells via up-regulation of the expression of the Egr-1, TSP-1, and E-cadherin.

Inhibition of cell motility and invasion by HangAmDan-B in NCI-H460 human non-small cell lung cancer cells

“…After washing with PBS, serum-free media (to prevent cell proliferation) containing 0.5 mg/ml of HAD-B was added. Photographs of the wounded area were taken immediately after the scratch was made and 12, 24, and 48 h later in order to monitor movement of cells into the wounded area (20).…”

Reduction of doxorubicin-induced genotoxicity by Handroanthus impetiginosus in mouse bone marrow revealed by micronucleus assay

“…In phytochemical studies involving H. impetiginosus, naphthoquinones, furanonaphthoquinones, anthraquinones, benzoic acid derivatives, benzaldehyde derivatives, iridoids, coumarins, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoid glycosides were isolated and identified (Ueda et al, 1994;Kreher et al, 1988;Pereira et al, 2006;Kim et al, 2007;Awale et al, 2005;Suo et al, 2013). Among the various quinones reported in the literature, lapachol and β-lapachone are of clinical importance because they have been associated with a variety of pharmacological activities (Oswald, 1993(Oswald, -1994Silva et al, 2003;Gómez Castellanos et al, 2009).…”

First report of Alternaria alternata causing black spot on pink lapacho (Handroanthus impetiginosus)

“…It produces high-quality wood that is used to build houses, boats and/or farm tools. Traditionally the inner bark of H. impetiginosus has ethnopharmacological applications like the treatment of skin inflammatory diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, bacterial infections and even human cancers (Woo and Choi 2005;Kim et al 2007;Byeon et al 2008). During autumn of 2013, leaves of lapachos growing in the urban area of La Plata (Middle eastern, Argentina, Buenos Aires province) presented many spots that looked like disease symptoms ( Fig.…”