title: Berberine suppresses in vitro migration and invasion of human SCC-4 tongue squamous cancer cells through the inhibitions of FAK, IKK, NF-kappaB, u-PA and MMP-2 and -9.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Inhibition of u-PA and MMPs could suppress migration and invasion of cancer cells. Berberine, one of the main constituents of the plant Rhizoma coptidis, is a type of isoquinoline alkaloid, reported to have anti-cancer effects in different human cancer cell lines. There is however, no available information on effects of berberine on migration and invasion of human tongue cancer cells. Here, we report that berberine inhibited migration and invasion of human SCC-4 tongue squamous carcinoma cells. This action was mediated by the p-JNK, p-ERK, p-p38, IkappaK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways resulting in inhibition of MMP-2 and -9 in human SCC-4 tongue squamous carcinoma cells. Our Western blowing analysis also showed that berberine inhibited the levels of urokinase-plasminogen activator (u-PA). These results suggest that berberine down-regulates u-PA, MMP-2 and -9 expressions in SCC-4 cells through the FAK, IKK and NF-kappaB mediated pathways and a novel function of berberine is to inhibit the invasive capacity of malignant cells.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Tsuan
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Jai-Sing
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tsai-Chung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jen-Jyh
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jaung-Geng
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuang-Chi
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Chia-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: W Gibson
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D001599:Berberine; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; C496050:PTK2 protein, human; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9