title: Huaier aqueous extract inhibits stem-like characteristics of MCF7 breast cancer cells via inactivation of hedgehog pathway.
abstract: The theory of targeting cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) provides novel strategy for cancer treatment. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effect of Huaier aqueous extract on eradicating breast cancer stem cells and explored the underlying mechanisms. Our data demonstrated that various concentrations of Huaier extract significantly decreased the viabilities, numbers, and sizes of mammospheres. After incubation with Huaier extract for 24 h, the clonogenicity of MCF7 cell line was obviously impaired, along with less holoclones. In addition, Huaier extract reduced the number of cells expressing CD44+/CD24- and decreased the level of stem cell markers (OCT-4, NESTIN, and NANOG). The hedgehog (Hh), notch, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were essential stem cell signaling pathways involved in regulating CSC renewal and maintenance. We reported that the inhibitory effect of Huaier extract was partly depended on the inactivation of Hh pathway. These findings provided experimental evidence that Huaier extract was a promising therapeutic drug for eliminating the breast cancer stem cells.
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Wenhua Xi Road No. 107, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaolong
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Zhang
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Huo
authors: Mingjuan
authors: M
authors: Sun
authors: Lun
authors: L
authors: Dong
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Guangwei
authors: G
authors: Xu
authors: Qifeng
authors: Q
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D055454:Trametes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin