title: Qigesan inhibits migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells via inducing connexin expression and enhancing gap junction function.
abstract: Qigesan (QGS), a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal formula, has long been used to treat patients with esophageal cancer. However, the anticancer mechanisms of action of QGS remain unknown. This study aims to determine whether QGS regulates gap junction (GJ) function and affects the invasiveness of esophageal cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that QGS markedly inhibits the migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells in vitro. We further show that QGS enhances the function of GJ in esophageal cancer cells. We therefore hypothesized that enhanced connexin expression leads to enhanced GJ function and inhibition of metastasis. We found that QGS enhances expression of connexin 26 and connexin 43 in esophageal cancer cells. This study suggests that QGS increases GJ function via enhancing the expression of connexins, resulting in reduced esophageal cancer cell migration and invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050011, China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China.
authors.forename: Dongxuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Yiling Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei 050091, China.
authors.forename: Yansong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: qshen@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050011, China. Electronic address: lijingtiger@163.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D000072259:Connexin 26; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C500216:GJA1 protein, human; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; C000621388:qigesan; D000072259:Connexin 26
keywords: Connexins; Esophageal cancer; Gap junction; Metastasis; Qigesan composite formula