Title:Inhibition of Migration and Invasion of Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cells by Dietary Saponins via Targeting HIF-1α
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 7
Author(s):Cheng Luo*, Di Wu, Meiling Chen, Wenhua Miao, Changfeng Xue, Yanhui Sun, Dequan Liu, Chong Xie, Yaqin Wang, Christopher Frenz and Shanggui Deng*
Affiliation:School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, 1 Ocean University S. Rd., Lincheng New District, Zhoushan 316022, Zhejiang, School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, 1 Ocean University S. Rd., Lincheng New District, Zhoushan 316022, Zhejiang, School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, 1 Ocean University S. Rd., Lincheng New District, Zhoushan 316022, Zhejiang, School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, 1 Ocean University S. Rd., Lincheng New District, Zhoushan 316022, Zhejiang, College of Life Sciences and Ecology, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, Hainan, Faculty of Biology and Food Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, Anhui, Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650106, Yunnan, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Interfaith Medical Center, Mercy College, New York, NY, School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, 1 Ocean University S. Rd., Lincheng New District, Zhoushan 316022, Zhejiang
Keywords:HepG2 cells, hypoxia, normaxia, RT-PCR, saponins, migration, invasion, HIF-1α.
Abstract:Abstract: Background: Different saponins from herbs have been used as tonic or functional foods,
and for treatment of various diseases including cancers. Although clinical data has supported the function of
these saponins, their underlying molecular mechanisms have not been well defined.
Methods: With the simulated hypoxia created by 8 hours of Cu++ exposure and following 24 hour incubation
with different concentration of saponins in HepG2 cells for MTT assay, migration and invasion assays, and for
RT-PCR, and with each group of cells for immunofluorescence observation by confocal microscopy.
Results：ZC-4 had the highest rate of inhibition of cell proliferation by MTT assay, and the highest inhibition
of migration rate by in vitro scratch assay, while ZC-3 had the highest inhibition of invasion ratio by transwell
assay. Under the same simulated hypoxia, the molecular mechanism of saponin function was conducted by
measuring the gene expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-1α through RT-PCR, in which ZC-3 showed
a potent inhibition of gene HIF-1α. For the protein expression by immunofluorescence staining with confocal
microscopy, HIF-1α was also inhibited by saponins, with the most potent one being ZC-4 after eight hours’
relatively hypoxia incubation.
Conclusion: Saponins ZC-4 and ZC-3 have the potential to reduce HepG2 cell proliferation, migration and
invasion caused by hypoxia through effectively inhibiting the gene and protein expression of HIF-1α directly
and as antioxidant indirectly
