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  2. Crocin attenuates NF-κB-mediated inflammation and proliferation in breast cancer cells by down-regulating PRKCQ

Crocin attenuates NF-κB-mediated inflammation and proliferation in breast cancer cells by down-regulating PRKCQ

  • Cytokine. 2022 Jun;154:155888. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155888.
Quanxiao Xu 1 Jinsong Yu 2 Guangwei Jia 3 Zhong Li 4 Hui Xiong 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Oncology, Nanyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Henan University, Nanyang 473004, China.
  • 2 Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Nanyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Henan University, Nanyang 473004, China; Key Laboratory of Thyroid Tumor Prevention and Treatment of Nanyang, Nanyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Henan University, Nanyang 473004, China.
  • 3 Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Nanyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Henan University, Nanyang 473004, China; Key Laboratory of Thyroid Tumor Prevention and Treatment of Nanyang, Nanyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Henan University, Nanyang 473004, China. Electronic address: jiaguangwei2022@163.com.
  • 4 Department of General Surgery, Nanyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Henan University, Nanyang 473004, China.
Abstract

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed Cancer confronting women worldwide. Crocin, a glycosylated carotenoid extracted from Crocus sativus L., possesses anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. This study tried to explore the influences of crocin on proliferation and inflammation of BC cells, and to investigate the possible mechanism. The protein levels of protein kinase C theta (PRKCQ) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p-p65 and p65 were examined using western blot analysis. The potential targets of crocin were predicted using the PharmMapper database. Cell viability and proliferation were determined utilizing CCK-8 and EdU incorporation assays, respectively. Inflammation was assessed by detecting the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) using RT-qPCR and ELISA. Results showed that crocin inhibited NF-κB activation and suppressed cell viability and proliferation in BC cells. Crocin caused a significant reduction of levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, suggesting that crocin suppressed inflammation in BC cells. NF-κB inhibition decreased proliferation and inflammation in BC cells. Additionally, PRKCQ was identified as a potential target of crocin according to PharmMapper database. Crocin treatment inhibited the activation of NF-κB in BC cells by reducing PRKCQ expression. Mechanistically, PRKCQ-dependent activation of NF-κB pathway reversed the effects of crocin on the proliferation and inflammation in BC cells. In conclusion, crocin inhibited NF-κB-mediated inflammation and proliferation in BC cells through reducing PRKCQ expression.

Keywords

Breast cancer; Crocin; Inflammation; NF-κB; PRKCQ.

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