Ethylacetate fraction from Korean seaside starfish, Asterias amurensis, has an inhibitory effect on MMP-9 activity and expression and on migration behavior of TNF-α induced human aortic smooth muscle cells

Oldenlandia diffusa suppresses metastatic potential through inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression via p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Oldenlandia diffusa (OD) has long been known as an apoptotic inducer in breast tumors in ethnomedicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To scientifically confirm the anti-breast cancer effects of water, methanol (MeOH) and butanol (BuOH) extracts of O. diffusa on cell apoptosis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and intracellular signaling in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MeOH extracts (MOD) and BuOH extracts (BOD) were prepared and examined for their ability to inhibit phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expressions in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Additionally, transwell migration, invasion and transcriptional activity were assessed. Results of immunofluorescence confocal microscopy for translocation of NF-κB and p-ERK and p-p38 were also checked. Finally, apoptotic signals including processed caspase-8, caspase-7, poly ADP-ribose polymerase, Bax and Bcl-2 were examined.

RESULTS

MOD and BOD specifically inhibited PMA-induced MMP-9 expression as well as invasive and migration potential via ICAM-1. The inhibitory activity was also based on the suppressed transcriptional activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results of immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed that translocation of NF-κB decreased upon BOD and MOD treatments, with a decreased level of p-ERK and p-p38 phosphorylation. In addition, treatment of MCF-7 cells with MOD and BOD activated apoptosis-linked proteins including enzymatically active forms of processed caspase-8, caspase-7 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase, together with increased expression of mitochondrial apoptotic protein, Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that OD as an anti-metastatic agent suppresses the metastatic response by targeting p-ERK, p-38 and NF-κB, thus reducing the invasion capacity of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through inhibition of MMP-9 and ICAM-1 expression and plays an important role in the regulation of breast cancer cell apoptosis.

Metastatic Inhibitory and Radical Scavenging Efficacies of Saponins Extracted from the Brittle Star (Ophiocoma erinaceus)

Echinodermata use saponins in chemical defense against pathogens and predators. The molecular mechanisms of antimetastatic effects of brittle star saponins are still unknown. The present study examined antioxidant capacity and invasive ability in HeLa carcinoma cells exposed to brittle star crude saponins. Discolorating methods with DPPH and ABTS and expression of SOD-2 with RT-PCR were used to estimate the antioxidant activity. The anti-invasive activity of extracted saponins was examined through adhesion of HeLa cells to extracellular matrix, wound healing and evaluation of the mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by real time-PCR. The results showed that extracted saponins had cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cells and ABTS and DPPH scavenging properties with IC50 values of 604.5, 1012 μg/ml, respectively. Further, we found that, in wound healing assay, brittle star saponins could prevent invasion of HeLa cells in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, cell adhesion assay demonstrated blockage of cell attachment to extracellular matrix with an IC50 concentration of 16.1μg/ml. The significant dose dependent down regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in treated cells demonstrated that isolated saponins can decline tumor metastasis in vitro. The brittle star saponins remarkably prevented cervical cancer invasion and migration associated with down regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression. Therefore, saponins could be suggested as an anti-invasive candidate against cervical cancer and an antioxidant as well.

Antioxidative and anticancer activities of various ethanolic extract fractions from crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Many studies currently researching marine invertebrates to determine the therapeutic potential of their bioactive materials have been showing very promising results. The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, an Echinodermata of the class Asteroidea, is infamous as the unique venomous starfish and as a destroyer of coral reefs. Starfish possesses many useful pharmacological and biological characteristics. In this study, A. planci was extracted with 70% ethanol and lyophilized to obtain an ethanol fraction. The ethanol fraction was dissolved with water and defatted with petroleum ether to obtain a non-polar fraction. The residual solution was successively partitioned with ethylacetate and butanol to obtain an ethylacetate fraction and butanol fraction, respectively. Four fractions were used to examine the antioxidant and anticancer properties. The ethanol fraction of A. planci contained the highest antioxidant effects such as ABTS, DPPH, Fe(2+) chelating activity and reducing power when compared with four fractions. Among the four fractions, the butanol fraction was especially shown to inhibit human malignant melanoma A375.S2 cells' proliferation, which is involved in the apoptotic progression. This fraction could induce apoptosis and even necrosis in A375.S2 cells as evidenced by double staining with an Annexin V-FITC and PI assay and DNA fragmentation analysis. These results indicated that the starfish A. planci is a good resource for obtaining the biologically active substances for antioxidant and anticancer effects.

Pimaric acid from Aralia cordata has an inhibitory effect on TNF-α-induced MMP-9 production and HASMC migration via down-regulated NF-κB and AP-1

Many studies have indicated that activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration are involved in neointimal formation and atherosclerosis. In this study, we revealed that pimaric acid (PiMA) purified from Aralia cordata had an inhibitory effect on MMP-9 production and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Down-regulated MMP-9 mRNA transcription was detected in PiMA-treated cells using RT-PCR and the luciferase-tagged MMP-9 promoter assay. Results of an electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that PiMA-treated HASMCs showed decreased binding activity of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein-1 transcription factors. A Western-blot analysis using nuclear extract demonstrated that PiMA reduced the levels of NF-κB p65, c-Fos, p-c-Jun, Jun-D, and p-ATF2 proteins in the nucleus. In addition, TNF-α stimulated mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) containing extracellular signal regulated kinase 1 and 2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase was inhibited by PiMA. Using the Transwell system, we found that PiMA inhibited TNF-α stimulated HASMC migration/invasion in a dose-dependent manner. To confirm whether MAPK mediated MMP-9 expression, we used MAPK inhibitors including U0126, SB253580, and SP600125 and found that those inhibitors reduced MMP-9 expression and HASMC migration/invasion. These results suggest that PiMA has potent anti-atherosclerotic activity with inhibitory action on MMP-9 production and cell migration in TNF-α-induced HASMCs.