Matrine restrains the development of colorectal cancer through regulating the AGRN/Wnt/β‐catenin pathway

Abstract

Background Colorectal cancer is a common malignant digestive tract tumor. This study aimed to explore the biological role and potential underlying mechanism of matrine in colorectal cancer. Methods The mRNA expression of AGRN was measured using RT‐qPCR. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were determined using CCK‐8, EdU, transwell assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Xenograft tumor experiment was performed to explore the action of matrine and AGRN on tumor growth in colorectal cancer in vivo. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was applied for AGRN, β‐catenin, and c‐Myc expression in the tumor tissues from mice. Results Matrine dramatically repressed cell growth and reduced the level of AGRN in colorectal cancer cells. AGRN expression was boosted colorectal cancer tissues and cells. AGRN downregulation depressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and enhanced cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, matrine showed the anti‐tumor effects on colorectal cancer cells via regulating AGRN expression. AGRN knockdown could inactivate the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in colorectal cancer cells. We found that AGRN downregulation exhibited the inhibition action in the progression of colorectal cancer by modulating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. In addition, matrine could inhibit the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway through regulating AGRN in colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, xenograft tumor experiment revealed that matrine treatment or AGRN knockdown repressed the development of colorectal cancer via the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in vivo. Conclusion Matrine retarded colorectal cancer development by modulating AGRN to inactivate the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway.

Differentially Expressed Genes, miRNAs and Network Models: A Strategy to Shed Light on Molecular Interactions Driving HNSCC Tumorigenesis

“…Concerning new findings not yet clearly linked to HNSCC, some authors found that AGRN downregulation reduces cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and enhances apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Of note, they observed also that matrine, an alkaloid found in plants, has anti-tumor effects on colorectal cancer cells by inactivating the Wnt/ -catenin pathway via regulating AGRN expression [ 75 ]. Hence, AGRN could represent a potential target for therapies also in HNSCC.…”

Matrine, a potential drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

“…21 There exists a substantial body of research demonstrating the antitumor properties of matrine, which has led to its extensive utilization in clinical tumor therapy. 22,23 For example, this drug has been used to treat liver, stomach, prostate, breast, colon, lung, and other cancers. [24][25][26][27][28][29] In addition, it has therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease, encephalomyelitis, asthma, myocardial ischemia, RA, osteoporosis, and other diseases.…”

“…There exists a substantial body of research demonstrating the antitumor properties of matrine, which has led to its extensive utilization in clinical tumor therapy 22,23 . For example, this drug has been used to treat liver, stomach, prostate, breast, colon, lung, and other cancers 24–29 .…”

Matrine exerts an anti‐tumor effect via regulating HN1 in triple breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo

“…Matrine is a kind of alkaloid, which is mainly isolated from Sophora flavescens (Li et al, 2023). At present, a large number of studies have confirmed that matrine has an anti-tumor effect, which can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, block cell cycle, induce apoptosis, inhibit tumor cell metastasis, and so on (Chen et al, 2022).…”