Effects of garcinia acid on proliferation and invasion of human bladder cancer cell line

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impacts of garcinia acid on the proliferation and invasion abilities of human bladder cancer cell line (BIU-87), and to study the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods The BIU-87 cells were cultured in vitro, and then the cells were divided into control group, low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose garcinia acid groups. The cells in the drug groups were treated with 20, 40, 80 μmol/L of garcinia acid for 24, 48, and 72 h, and control group were incubated by normal medium. The inhibition of proliferation of BIU-87 cells was performed using CCK8 assay. The abilities of BIU-87 cell invasion were assessed using Transwell chambers, and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analyzed using Western Blot technology. Results Compared with control group, the proliferation inhibitory rates of cells after treatment with low-, middle-, and high-dose garcinia acid for 24, 48, and 72 h were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Moreover, the proliferation inhibitory rates in different drug groups were greatly increased with the time extension. Compared with control group, the number of cells passing through the membrane(26 ± 4, 41 ± 4, 53 ± 5 vs. 119 ± 7) in low-, middle-, and high-dose garcinia acid group significantly decreased (P<0.05), the expression levels of VEGF (41.2 ± 6.2, 23.8 ± 5.2, 17.9 ± 4.7 vs. 14.8 ± 4.2) in low-, middle-, and high-dose garcinia acid group significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions The Garcinia acid can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of BIU-87 cells via the down-regulation of VEGF expression. Key words: Cell proliferation; Neoplasm invasiveness; Vascular endothelial growth factors; Garcinia acid