Berberine Inhibits the Apoptosis-Induced Metastasis by Suppressing the iPLA2/LOX-5/LTB4 Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Main Authors: Zhao Y, He K, Zheng H, Sun M, Shi T, Zheng X, Shao D, Zhang H, Guan F, Li J, Chen L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-06-01
• Series: OncoTargets and Therapy
• Subjects: hepatocellular carcinoma; berberine; chemotherapy; metastasis; lox-5
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/berberine-inhibits-the-apoptosis-induced-metastasis-by-suppressing-the-peer-reviewed-article-OTT
• ISSN: 1178-6930

Yawei Zhao,1,* Kan He,1,* Huilin Zheng,1 Madi Sun,1 Tongfei Shi,1 Xiao Zheng,1 Dan Shao,1,2 Hansi Zhang,1 Fengying Guan,1 Jing Li,1 Li Chen1,3 1Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; 3School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun 130020, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jing LiDepartment of Pharmacology, Basic College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant cancers around the world. HCC is less sensitive to conventional cytotoxic agents and easily develops into systemic metastases. However, the molecular mechanisms of the metastasis of HCC are poorly understood and need elucidation.Materials and Methods: Transwell system of the chemotherapy-challenged and unchallenged HepG2 cells was established. Adhesion assay and scratch-wound assay were utilized to analyze the adhesion and migration of HepG2 cells. iPLA2 and LOX-5 expression were analyzed by Western blot. LTB4 level was analyzed by ELISA.Results: Chemotherapeutics are traditionally regarded as a way of killing tumor cells; on the other hand, we proved that the chemotherapeutics-induced tumor cell apoptosis can also change the tumor microenvironment by activating the LOX pathway and subsequently release inflammatory factors such as LTB4 which can stimulate the adhesion and migration of the small number of surviving cells. Berberine can reverse the adhesion and migration of HepG2 cells by inhibiting the expression of LOX-5 and reducing the LTB4 production in the tumor microenvironment.Conclusion: Our study sheds light on a novel anti-metastasis strategy that the combination of Berberine and chemotherapy may prevent the chemotherapy-induced metastasis in HCC.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, Berberine, chemotherapy, metastasis, LOX-5