The Effects of Curcumin Combined with Cisplatin on Apoptosis, Invasion and Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells Through TGF-β1/Smads Signaling Pathways

Abstract

Objective: To explore the influences of Curcumin combined with Cisplatin on proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE-2 in vitro , and its relationship with TGF-β 1/Smads signaling pathway. Method: The experiment included four groups: the Control group, Curcumin group (10 μmol/L), Cisplatin group (10 μmol/L), Merge group (10 mol/L Curcumin and 10 mol/L Cisplatin). The inhibition of Curcumin combined with Cisplatin on CNE-2 cell proliferation was measured by using MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and DAPI staining. The invasion and migration ability of CNE-2 cells were tested by Transwell test and scratch test. The Caspase-3 activity was detected. The expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad4 and Smad7 in the cells were measured by Western blot. Results: Compared with the control group, the proliferation rate of CNE-2 achieved remarkable decline in the Curcumin group, the Cisplatin group and the merge group (P < 0 05); the apoptosis rate and the Caspase-3 activity were significantly elevated (P < 0 05); the invasion and metastasis ability was obviously reduced (P < 0 05); The merge group had the most significant effect of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis promotion (P < 0 05). In addition, the Curcumin group, cisplatin group and combined group could inhibit the expression of TGF- β1, Smad2/3/4 proteins, and increase the expression of Smad7 proteins with significantly difference (P < 0 05). The regulatory effects of the merge group was the most significant (P < 0 05). Conclusion: Curcumin combined with Cisplatin has a synergistic effect, inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting invasion and metastasis of CNE-2 cells, possibly being related with the down-regulation of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.