Study on effect and mechanism of Huaier aqueous extract on growth and invasion of human prostate cancer PC3 cells

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of Huaier aqueous extracton growth and invasion of human prostate cancer PC3 cells. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Huaier aqueous extract on proliferation of PC3 cells. The effects of Huaier aqueous extract on cell cycle and apoptosis of PC3 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Moreover, wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to determine the effect of Huaier aqueous extract on invasion and migration abilities of PC3 cells. PC3 cells treated with Huaier aqueous extract were subjected to western blotting for protein levels of EMT markers and phosphorylation levels of key proteins in MAPK pathway. Results revealed that Huaier aqueous extract significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC3 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Huaier aqueous extract dramatically increased the apoptosis rate and induced S-phase arrest in PC3 cells.Furthermore, Huaier suppressed invasion and migration abilities of PC3 cells, and facilitated MET process of PC3 cells via down-regulation of N-cadherin and TCF8/ZEB1 and up-regulation of E-cadherin. In addition, Huaier reduced the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK. Therefore, the regulatory effects of Huaier on EMT and MAPK pathway may be responsible for the suppressive effect of Huaier on growth and invasion of PC3 cells.