title: The involvement of AMPK/GSK3-beta signals in the control of metastasis and proliferation in hepato-carcinoma cells treated with anthocyanins extracted from Korea wild berry Meoru.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Activation of the Wnt pathway is known to promote tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis, and targeting Wnt pathway inhibition has emerged as an attractive approach for controlling tumor invasion and metastasis. The major pathway for inhibiting Wnt is through the degradation of β-catenin by the GSK3-beta/CK1/Axin/APC complex. It was found that Hep3B hepato-carcinoma cells respond to anthocyanins through GSK3-beta-induced suppression of beta-catenin; however, they cannot dephosphorylate GSK3-beta without AMPK activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested the effects of anthocyanins on proliferation and apoptosis by MTT and Annexin V-PI staining in vitro. Mouse xenograft models of hepato-carcinomas were established by inoculation with Hep3B cells, and mice were injected with 50 mg/kg/ml of anthocyanins. In addition, protein levels of p-GSK3-beta, beta-catenin, p-AMPK, MMP-9, VEGF, and Ang-1 were also analyzed using western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anthocyanins decrease phospho-GSK3-beta and beta-catenin expression in an in vivo tumor xenograft model, increase AMPK activity in this model, and inhibit cell migration and invasion, possibly by inhibiting MMP-2 (in vitro) and the panendothelial marker, CD31 (in vivo). To elucidate the role of the GSK3-beta/beta-catenin pathway in cancer control, we conditionally inactivated this pathway, using activated AMPK for inhibition. Further, we showed that AMPK siRNA treatment abrogated the ability of anthocyanins to control cell proliferation and metastatic potential, and Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, could not restore GSK3-beta regulation, as exhibited by anthocyanins in Hep3B cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations imply that the AMPK-mediated GSK3-beta/beta-catenin circuit plays crucial roles in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and metastasis in anthocyanin-treated hepato-carcinoma cells of Meoru origin.
authors.forename: Song Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yun-Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won Sup
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ock Jin
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Hannam University Daedeok Valley Campus, 461-6 Jeonmin-dong, Daejeon 305-811 Yuseong-gu, South Korea. kym@hnu.kr.
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051176:beta Catenin; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases