title: Baicalein inhibits migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells through suppression of the TGF-β signaling pathway.
abstract: The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway exhibits an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. Excessive expression of TGF-β activates Smad4, leading to the upregulation of downstream metastasis-associated genes. Thus, the inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad4 signaling pathway may be a novel strategy for treatment of cancer metastasis. Baicalein, a flavonoid derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has been reported to exert strong anti-tumor activity towards various types of cancer. In the present study the effect of baicalein on migration and invasion of cancer cells was evaluated using wound-healing and Transwell assays. In order to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-metastatic effects of baicalein, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analyses were performed to examine the effect on the expression of TGF‑β, Smad4, N-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1 and ZEB2. It was determined that baicalein inhibited the migration and invasion of AGS cells by suppressing the TGF-β/Smad4 signaling pathway. In addition, baicalein treatment reduced the expression of the metastasis-associated N-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1 and ZEB2, downstream target genes of the TGF‑β/Smad4 signaling pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that inhibition of the metastasis of cancer cells via inactivation of TGF-β/Smad4 signaling is one of the mechanisms by which baicalein may treat cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fenglin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Union Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mingkai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine Biomedical Research Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tingxuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Sanmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Manqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yating
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhixin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuehong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D044950:Flavanones / Q000633:toxicity*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000074165:Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D015820:Cadherins; D044950:Flavanones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014746:Vimentin; C486307:ZEB1 protein, human; C492363:ZEB2 protein, human; D000074165:Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1; C006680:baicalein