2021, 28(6):590-597.
Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (CMSP) momomer compounds extract from the Cochinchina momordica seeds on the growth and metastasis of melanoma transplanted tumors in mice with in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: A tumor-bearing mouse model was established, and 18 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (6 mice in each group): a control group (intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 ml normal saline) and two CMSP treatment groups (intraperitoneal injection of 1 and 2 mg/ml CMSP of 0.1 ml). From the 5th day of drug administration, the transplanted tumor in mice was measured with calipers and the volume was calculated before each administration. At the end of the experiment, the mass of transplanted tumor was weighed. The pathological changes of liver tissues were observed under light microscope after H-E staining. The expressions of E-cadherin and vimentin in the transplanted tumor tissues were detected by SP immunohistochemical method. The metastatic ability of melanoma B16 cells in the CMSP group (10, 20 μg/ml) was detected by cell scratch test and Transwell test after treatment for 24 and 48 h. The expressions of EMT-related mRNAs in B16 cells after treatment with CMSP for 24 h were detected by qPCR. The protein expression levels of β-catenin, p-β-catenin (Ser675), vimentin and E-cadherin in B16 cells treated with CMSP for 48 h were detected by Western blotting(WB). Results: The mean tumor volume and tumor mass of the mice in CMSP treatment group were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). The number of liver metastases in the control group was significantly higher than that in the CMSP (1 and 2 mg/ kg) groups (all P<0.05); moreover, no obvious metastases were found in the liver tissues of the 2 mg/kg CMSP treatment group. The expression level of E-cadherin protein in CMSP group (1 and 2 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P<0.05), while the expression level of vimentin protein was significantly lower than that in the control group (all P<0.01). For the in vitro experiments, the scratch healing rate of B16 cells in CMSP groups (10, 20 μg/ml) after treatment for 24 and 48 h was significantly lower than that in control group (all P<0.05). The number of B16 cells passing through Transwell compartment in the 20 μg/ml CMSP treatment group was significantly decreased as compared with the control group (all P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of β-catenin in B16 cells treated with CMSP (10, 20 μg/ ml) was significantly lower than that in control group (all P<0.01), while the mRNA expression level of E-cadherin was significantly increased (all P<0.05); However, the mRNA expression level of vimentin in the 10 μg/ml treatment group was not significantly different from that in the control group (P>0.05), but it was significantly decreased in the 20 μg/ml treatment group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the protein expressions of β-catenin, p-β-catenin and vimentin in B16 cells of CMSP groups (10 and 20 μg/ml) were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), while the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased (all P<0.01). Conclusion: CMSP can inhibit the growth and metastasis of melanoma transplanted tumors in mice, and its mechanism may be related to the activity of wnt/β-catenin pathway.