open access

Vol 59, No 4 (2021)
Original paper
Submitted: 2021-03-04
Accepted: 2021-11-06
Published online: 2021-11-30
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Actinidia chinensis Planch. root extract inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells via the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Chunchun Gan1, Zhan Jin1, Xiaopeng Wei2, Meina Jin2
·
Pubmed: 34852177
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2021;59(4):226-235.
Affiliations
  1. School of Medicine, Quzhou College of Technology, China
  2. School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China

open access

Vol 59, No 4 (2021)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2021-03-04
Accepted: 2021-11-06
Published online: 2021-11-30

Abstract

Introduction. Actinidia chinensis Planch. root extract (acRoots), known as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has shown antitumor efficacy in various types of human cancers. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in breast cancer (BCa) have not been elucidated.

Material and methods. In the present study, the effects of acRoots on cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were analyzed by MTT assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assay in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell lines. The expression levels of relevant proteins were determined by Western blot assay.

Results. The results revealed that acRoots inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis of BCa cells. Moreover, acRoots decreased the expression of cyclin D1, survivin, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, and Snail and increased the expression of Bax and E-cadherin in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. AcRoots inhibited the AKT/GSK-3b pathway by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated GSK-3b and b-catenin.

Conclusions. The described effects of acRoots on the cultured BCa cells suggest that they may be mediated by the inhibition of the AKT/GSK-3b signaling pathway. Thus, further studies are warranted to test the possibility that AcRoots may be used as a promising anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment.

Abstract

Introduction. Actinidia chinensis Planch. root extract (acRoots), known as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has shown antitumor efficacy in various types of human cancers. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in breast cancer (BCa) have not been elucidated.

Material and methods. In the present study, the effects of acRoots on cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were analyzed by MTT assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assay in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell lines. The expression levels of relevant proteins were determined by Western blot assay.

Results. The results revealed that acRoots inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis of BCa cells. Moreover, acRoots decreased the expression of cyclin D1, survivin, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, and Snail and increased the expression of Bax and E-cadherin in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. AcRoots inhibited the AKT/GSK-3b pathway by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated GSK-3b and b-catenin.

Conclusions. The described effects of acRoots on the cultured BCa cells suggest that they may be mediated by the inhibition of the AKT/GSK-3b signaling pathway. Thus, further studies are warranted to test the possibility that AcRoots may be used as a promising anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment.

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Keywords

Actinidia chinensis Planch. root; breast cancer cells; proliferation; apoptosis; migration; invasion; AKT/GSK-3β

About this article
Title

Actinidia chinensis Planch. root extract inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells via the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 59, No 4 (2021)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

226-235

Published online

2021-11-30

Page views

6962

Article views/downloads

659

DOI

10.5603/FHC.a2021.0023

Pubmed

34852177

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2021;59(4):226-235.

Keywords

Actinidia chinensis Planch. root
breast cancer cells
proliferation
apoptosis
migration
invasion
AKT/GSK-3β

Authors

Chunchun Gan
Zhan Jin
Xiaopeng Wei
Meina Jin

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