Identification of Matrine as a Novel Regulator of the CXCR4 Signaling Axis in Tumor Cells

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 13; p. 4731
• Main Authors: Jung, Young Yun, Um, Jae-Young, Narula, Acharan S, Namjoshi, Ojas A, Blough, Bruce E, Kumar, Alan Prem, Ahn, Kwang Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 02.07.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: A549 Cells; Alkaloids - metabolism; Alkaloids - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Boyden chamber; Breast cancer; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Chemokines; CXCL12 protein; CXCR4; CXCR4 protein; Cytotoxicity; Down-regulation; Electrophoretic mobility; Epidermal growth factor; ErbB-2 protein; Gelatinase B; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Growth factors; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; Kinases; matrine; Matrix metalloproteinase; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Matrix metalloproteinases; Matrix Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; MMP-9/2; Neoplasm Invasiveness - genetics; Neoplasms - metabolism; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-ĸB; NF-κB protein; Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Phosphorylation; Polymerase chain reaction; Prostate; Quinolizines - metabolism; Quinolizines - pharmacology; Receptors, CXCR4 - metabolism; Receptors, CXCR4 - physiology; Reverse transcription; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Tumor cells; Tumors; Wound healing; CXCR4; matrine; NF-ĸB; MMP-9/2
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134731

Matrine, a quinolizidine alkaloid, is commonly employed for treating various viral and inflammatory disorders. Here, we have evaluated matrine for its activity on C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9/2) expression, and its potential to affect tumor metastasis and invasion. The effects of matrine on CXCR4, MMP-9/2, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in lung (A549), prostate (DU145), and pancreas (MIA PaCa-2) cells were investigated by diverse techniques. The expression level of CXCR4 and MMP-9/2 was analyzed by western blot analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. NF-κB activation was also evaluated by western blot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay as well as immunocytochemical experiments. Furthermore, we monitored cell invasion and metastasis activities by wound healing and Boyden chamber assays. We noted that matrine induced a down-regulation of CXCR4 and MMP-9/2 at both protein and mRNA levels. In addition, matrine negatively regulated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12)-induced CXCR4 expression. Moreover, NF-κB suppression by matrine led to inhibition of metastatic potential of tumor cells. Our results suggest that matrine can block the cancer metastasis through the negative regulation of CXCR4 and MMP-9/2 and consequently it can be considered as a potential candidate for cancer therapy.