title: Betulinic acid suppresses NGAL-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in melanoma.
abstract: Betulinic acid (BA) exhibits antitumoral activity by blocking proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. However, the impact of BA on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a hallmark of cancer metastasis induced among others by neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), remains unknown. The present study aimed at determining the effect of BA on NGAL-induced EMT. In A375 melanoma cells, BA downregulated mesenchymal markers, increased epithelial markers, and inhibited cytoskeletal reorganization. In addition, BA limited endogenous NGAL production and further suppressed EMT induced by exogenously added NGAL and the corresponding invasive cellular phenotype. In conclusion, BA interferes with EMT-associated changes, a mechanism to antagonize invasive melanoma cells.
authors: Department of Pathophysiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Dorina
authors: D
authors: Gheorgheosu
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Jung
authors: Bilge
authors: B
authors: Ören
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Schmid
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Dehelean
authors: Danina
authors: D
authors: Muntean
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Brüne
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D010641:Phenotype; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014315:Triterpenes; D000094062:Betulinic Acid