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Caffeic acid phenethyl ester upregulates N‐myc downstream regulated gene 1 via ERK pathway to inhibit human oral cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo
Author(s) -
Chung LiChuan,
Chiang KunChun,
Feng TsuiHsia,
Chang KangShuo,
Chuang SungTing,
Chen YuJen,
Tsui KeHung,
Lee JehnChuan,
Juang HorngHeng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201600842
Subject(s) - caffeic acid phenethyl ester , gene knockdown , mapk/erk pathway , cell growth , kinase , microbiology and biotechnology , transfection , reporter gene , cancer research , biology , cancer cell , chemistry , cell culture , cancer , gene expression , gene , biochemistry , caffeic acid , genetics , antioxidant
Scope Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a bioactive component of propolis, is considered as a new anti‐cancer agent. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral cancer with unsatisfying survival. N‐myc downstream regulated family genes ( NDRGs ) involve in numerous physiological processes. We investigated the anti‐cancer effect of CAPE on OSCC and related mechanisms. Methods and results Cell proliferation assay, western blot, gene transfection and knockdown, and reporter assay were applied. We showed that CAPE attenuated OSCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and safely and effectively inhibited OSCC cell growth in a xenograft animal model. CAPE treatment induced NDRG1, but not NDRG2 and NDRG3, expression in OSCC cells as determined by western blot, RT‐qPCR, and reporter assay. The 5′‐deletion assay demonstrated that CAPE increased NDRG1 promoter activity depending on the region of ‐128 to +46 of the 5′‐flanking of NDRG1 gene. NDRG1 gene knockdown attenuated CAPE anti‐growth effect on OSCC cells. CAPE activated mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor (PD0325901) and ERK1 knockdown blocked CAPE‐induced NDRG1 expression in OSCC cells. Conclusion CAPE activated MAPK signaling pathway and increased NDRG1 expression through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 to repress OSCC cells growth.