1. Academic Validation
  2. Fucoxanthin induces apoptosis and reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Fucoxanthin induces apoptosis and reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

  • Discov Oncol. 2022 Oct 3;13(1):98. doi: 10.1007/s12672-022-00564-4.
Heqi Luan 1 Lina Yan 1 Yuanyuan Zhao 1 Xuejiao Ding 1 Lihua Cao 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Τhe Second Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, No. 467 Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116027, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Τhe Second Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, No. 467 Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116027, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. dyeyhxk@163.com.
Abstract

Background: Invasion and metastasis are hallmark characteristics of Cancer and the main causes of death in Cancer patients. Studies have shown that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays significant role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid found in seaweeds, has been proved to have anti-tumor effects. Our study aimed to research the role of fucoxanthin on proliferation, Apoptosis, migration and EMT of two types of LUAD cells.

Methods: Cell migration and invasion were examined by Wound-healing and Transwell assays. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, EMT-related proteins and β-catenin. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of β-catenin in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues.

Results: Our results revealed that fucoxanthin depressed the proliferation and induced Apoptosis in A549 and NCI-H1299 cells. Moreover, fucoxanthin reversed TGF-β1-induced EMT and cell motility. Meanwhile, we disclosed that fucoxanthin and XAV939 had similar effect on β-catenin, EMT protein and cell motility. What is more, immunohistochemical results revealed that the high expression rate and abnormal expression rate of β-catenin in Cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous tissues.

Conclusion: Taken together, the findings of our research highlight a novel role for fucoxanthin in NSCLC cells, which might be a potentially effective anti-tumor agent for the treatment of LUAD patients.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Fucoxanthin; Non-small cell lung cancer.

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