黄芩苷对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721 JAK-STAT信号通路STAT3的影响

Research progress on baicalin in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown special therapeutic effects for HCC. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has antipyretic and hepatoprotective effects, and baicalin, the main active compound of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been widely reported for the treatment of HCC in recent years. The mechanisms of baicalin for inhibition of liver cancer growth involve inducing cancer cell apoptosis and differentiation, inhibiting protein synthesis and cancer cell migration, interfering with intercellular communication, reversing tumor drug resistance and so on. In addition, baicalin combined with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs or other anti-cancer TCMs has been demonstrated to exert good synergistic activity for HCC treatment. Based on the in vivo absorption characteristics and molecular structure of baicalin, researchers have developed solid lipid nanoparticles and metal-ion complexes of baicalin, which provides new insights into the use of baicalin in targeted therapy and improves anti-cancer effects. In this paper, we will review the recent advances in research of baicalin in the treatment of baicalin.

Treatment with baicalin up-regulates the expression of connexion 26 and connexion 43 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721

AIM: To investigate the effect of treatment with baicalin on the expression of connexion 26 (Cx26) and connexion 43 (Cx43) in human hepatocellular cell line SMMC-7721.

METHODS: SMMC-7721 cells were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, low-dose (10 mg/L) baicalin group, medium-dose (20 mg/L) baicalin group, and high-dose (40 mg/L) baicalin group. Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) was measured by scrap loading/dye transfer assay (SL/DT). The expression of Cx26 and Cx43 mRNAs in SMMC-7721 cells was determined by RT-PCR. The expression of Cx26 protein was detected by Western blot, and that of Cx43 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, the expression of Cx26 mRNA and protein was significantly enhanced in SMMC-7721 cells treated with low, medium and high concentrations of baicalin (mRNA: 0.148 ± 0.111, 10.253 ± 0.222, 17.283 ± 0.024 vs 0.138 ± 0.111; all P < 0.05; protein: 0.516 ± 0.029, 0.759 ± 0.020, 1.019 ± 0.076 vs 0.367 ± 0.029; all P < 0.05). Compared to the normal control group, the expression of Cx43 mRNA showed no significant changes, but the expression of Cx43 protein was significantly enhanced in SMMC-7721 cells treated with different concentrations of baicalin.

CONCLUSION: Restoration or enhancement of GJIC induced by up-regulation of Cx26 and Cx43 is likely to be an important molecular mechanism by which baicalin inhibits tumor growth.