Curcumin inhibits proliferation,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells via Wnt3a/β-catenin/EMT signaling pathway

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of curcumin on the proliferation,migration,invasion and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells and to explore the potential mechanisms. SGC7901,MKN45 and NCI N87 cells lines were cultured under different concentrations of curcumin( 2. 5,5,10,20,40,80 and 160 μmol·L~(-1)) at different time points( 12,24,48 and 72 h),and the effect of curcumin on cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay. The migration and invasiveness of cells were determined by wound healing and Transwell assays,the apoptosis rate was assessed by flow cytometry,the expression of N-cadherin,E-cadherin,snail1,Wnt3 a,p-β-catenin,p-LRP6,Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blot,and the enzymatic activity of caspase-3,caspase-8 and caspase-9 was evaluated via caspase kit. RESULTS:: indicated that the proliferation of MKN45 cells was significantly inhibited by curcumin in a dose-and time-dependent manner( IC50= 21. 93 μmol·L~(-1)). Moreover,curcumin could inhibit the migration and invasion of MKN45 cells,downregulate the expression of N-cadherin,snail1,Wnt3 a,p-β-catenin,p-LRP6 and Bcl-2,and upregulate the expression of E-cadherin and Bax,it could increase the activity of caspase-3,caspase-8,caspase-9 and induce apoptosis as well. The potential mechanism is through inhibiting the Wnt3 a/β-catenin/EMT pathway,regulating Bcl-2 signaling and caspase pathway,which might provide new potential strategies for gastric cancer treatment.