Treatment with the herbal formula Songyou Yin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma through downregulation of TGF-β1 expression and inhibition of the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway

Abstract

It was previously reported that treatment with the herbal formula Songyou Yin (SYY) may serve a role in attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the present study, the effect of treatment with SYY on transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced EMT was investigated and the potential underlying molecular mechanisms were evaluated. MHCC97H cells were pretreated with SYY for 4 weeks and subsequently named MHCC97HSYY cells. Simultaneously, MHCC97H cells were cultured for 4 weeks without SYY and used as a negative control. Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays demonstrated that treatment with SYY inhibited EMT-associated changes and TGF-β1 expression in MHCC97H cells. MHCC97H and MHCC97HSYY cells were treated with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 to induce EMT. The results of the present study demonstrated that pretreatment with SYY markedly inhibited TGF-β1-induced morphological changes, and reversed the expression of the EMT markers E-cadherin and N-cadherin. In addition, expression levels of the TGF-β1 downstream proteins, phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homologs (p-SMAD)2 and 3, were reduced. Transwell assays indicated that pretreatment with SYY inhibited TGF-β1-induced cancer cell invasion and migration. The results of the present study indicate that SYY inhibited EMT through attenuation of TGF-β1 expression, and downregulation of p-SMAD2 and 3.

Upregulation of miR-183-5p is responsible for the promotion of apoptosis and inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proliferation, invasion and migration of human endometrial cancer cells by downregulating Ezrin

“…Endometrial cancer develops and progresses according to the changes in genetic and epigenetic mutations in several genes associated with cancer and dysregulated hormone levels ( 4 ). During the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, polarized epithelial cells become active and show mesenchymal characteristics, and the features of EMT include the increase of the N-cadherin mesenchymal marker, the decrease of the E-cadherin epithelial marker, and the attainment of fibroblast-like migratory and invasive phenotypes ( 5 ). As cancer treatment is constantly changing, gene therapy and targeted therapy have gained increasing attention ( 6 ).…”

Octreotide-modified liposomes containing daunorubicin and dihydroartemisinin for treatment of invasive breast cancer

“…Metastasis is responsible for more than 90% of cancerassociated mortality. EMT is considered a fundamental step in the initiation of the metastatic cascade, in which process tumor cells lose epithelial polarity and acquire invasive properties [35]. Many cytokine factors have been associated with tumor invasion and metastasis.…”

Su Yang Decoction induces human colon carcinoma cell apoptosis by activating caspases

“…SYD is similar in composition to other prescriptions of Chinese herbal compounds. For example, Songyou Yin has been reported to inhibit tumor growth and prolong survival in nude mice bearing a human hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft with high metastatic potential (16,17), however its composition is unknown. It has been reported that SYD comprises two cruciferous vegetable species with some bioactive constituents that exhibit antitumor properties (4,18).…”