Abstract
Withaferin A (WFA) has been reported to inhibit cancer cell proliferation based on high cytotoxic concentrations. However, the low cytotoxic effect of WFA in regulating cancer cell migration is rarely investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in migration and mechanisms of oral cancer Ca9-22 cells after low concentrations of WFA treatment. WFA under 0.5 μM at 24 h treatment shows no cytotoxicity to oral cancer Ca9-22 cells (~95% viability). Under this condition, WFA triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inhibits 2D (wound healing) and 3D cell migration (transwell) and Matrigel invasion. Mechanically, WFA inhibits matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities but induces mRNA expression for a group of antioxidant genes, such as nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2 (NFE2L2), heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), glutathione-disulfide reductase (GSR), and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1)) in Ca9-22 cells. Moreover, WFA induces mild phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, including extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 expression. All WFA-induced changes were suppressed by the presence of ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Therefore, these results suggest that low concentration of WFA retains potent ROS-mediated anti-migration and -invasion abilities for oral cancer cells.
Highlights
Oral cancer leads to high morbidity and mortality [1]
Previously, we discovered that high cytotoxic concentration of Withaferin A (WFA), which was larger than IC50, selectively killed oral cancer cells but rarely damaged normal oral cells [12], i.e., IC50 value of WFA in Previously, we discovered that high cytotoxic concentration of WFA, which was larger than IC50, selectively killed oral cancer cells but rarely damaged normal oral cells [12], i.e., IC50 value of WFA in oral cancer Ca9-22 cells is 3 μM at 24 h MTS assay
Our study focuses on low concentrations of WFA to evaluate its inhibitory effects on migration and invasion in oral cancer Ca9-22 cells
Summary
Oral cancer leads to high morbidity and mortality [1]. It invades local tissues [2] and reoccurs occasionally [3]. Withaferin A (WFA), a triterpenoid derived from the root or leaf of the medicinal plant Withania somnifera, is reported to exhibit antiproliferative properties and can induce apoptosis in several types of cancers such as leukemia [5], cervical [6], pancreatic [7], breast [8], lung [9], colorectal [10], and oral [11,12] cancer cells. These anticarcinogenic effects for WFA were based on high cytotoxic concentrations
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