Anti-migratory effect of curcumin on A-549 lung cancer cells via epigenetic reprogramming of RECK/ matrix metalloproteinase axis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate theeffects of curcumin on the viability, migration, andapoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells. Furthermore, RECK/MMPs axis as a probable regulator of cancer cell migration was assessed. In this study, effect of curcumin on viability changes, cell migration, and percentage of apoptosis of A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma was examined. The methylation status of RECK gene was investigated using MS-HRM technique. Moreover, expression changes of genes involved in apoptosis and migration (including CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, BAX, BCL2, MMP9, MMP2, and RECK) were investigated by quantitative Real-Time PCR. The results of MTT assay showed that the cytotoxic effect of curcumin was in a dose dependent manner. Flow cytometry results demonstrated a significant increase in thepercentage of apoptotic cells in curcumin treated group. In addition, curcumin inhibited migration rate in lung cancer cells. qRT-PCR revealed that expression of the candidate genes was in line with suppressed growth andmigration. This could be due to, decreased methylation ofthe RECK gene promoter after curcumin treatment. Curcumin inhibited lung cancer cells through various molecular pathways. RECK/MMPs axis as a regulator of cancer cell migration was modulated after curcumin treatment and invasion of lung cancer cells was decreased.