title: Paeoniflorin inhibits human pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis via suppression of MMP-9 and ERK signaling.
abstract: Paeoniflorin exhibits anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects, as well as specific pharmacological effects on smooth muscle and the immune, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of paeoniflorin on pancreatic cancer cells and to elucidate the mechanisms by which these effects occur. In the present study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays were performed to assess cell viability and cell cytotoxicity of BXPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cells, respectively. Cellular apoptosis and caspase-3/9 activities were analyzed using an Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide Apoptosis Detection kit, a DAPI staining assay and colorimetric kits, respectively. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) protein expression in BXPC-3 cells were also investigated using gelatin zymography assays and western blot analysis, respectively. In the present study, paeoniflorin was found to inhibit the cell viability and increase cell cytotoxicity of BXPC-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, cellular apoptosis, as well as caspase-3 and -9 activity of BXPC-3 cells was increased following paeoniflorin treatment. Notably, paeoniflorin reduced MMP-9 and ERK protein expression in BXPC-3 cells. These results indicate that paeoniflorin exhibits a potential anticancer effect by enhancing human pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis via the suppression of MMP-9 and ERK signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Nanmu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinxue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: ERK; MMP-9; paeoniflorin; pancreatic cancer