title: Berberine hydrochloride impact on physiological processes and modulation of twist levels in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-1 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of berberine hydrochloride (BH) on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of CNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Our results shed light on the functional components of traditional Chinese herbs for potential use in modern medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CNE-1 cell line was treated with different concentrations of BH and effects on cell viability and proliferation were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Anti-migratory and anti-invasive actions of BH were investigated using wound healing assays and the Millicell Hanging cell culture insert system, respectively. Expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene twist (Twist) was analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Apoptosis was estimated with an annexin-V fluorescein (FITC) apoptosis detection kit, as well as with reference to levels of activated caspase-3 of CNE-1 cells before and after treatment with BH utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BH was capable of reducing proliferation and viability of CNE-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, also demonstrating anti-migratory and anti-invasive capacities which correlated with reduction in expression of Twist. Finally, BH was able to induce significant amounts of apoptosis in CNE-1 cells, as demonstrated by an increase in the activity of caspase-3 and in annexin-V staining following treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BH extracted from rhizoma coptidis demonstrated an ability to block proliferation, induce apoptosis, and impair the migration and invasion of the CNE-1 cell line Considering these properties, our results suggest that BH could be an important compound for consideration in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuchang, China E-mail : dongfangwu@163.com.
authors.forename: Cai-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-Fang
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ke-Yuan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: De-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1; D001599:Berberine; D053148:Caspase 3