Abstract
Metastasis, which is closely linked to cancer-related deaths, is a highly complex
process. It is an organ-specific process and involves interactions between the host
and cancer cells. CXC chemokine receptor 4 is known to be expressed in various tumors
and the binding with CXC ligand 12 induces signaling in cancer cell survival, migration,
and proliferation. Particularly, the CXC chemokine receptor 4/CXC ligand 12 axis is
known to promote the metastasis of breast cancer. Thus, agents that can downregulate
CXC chemokine receptor 4 expression have potential against cancer metastasis. Minecoside
is an active compound extracted from Veronica peregrina L. It is widely distributed in Korea and has been used as a traditional drug for the
treatment of various chronic diseases. However, the anticancer and anti-inflammatory
effects of minecoside have yet to be clarified. In this study, we found that minecoside
downregulates constitutive CXC chemokine receptor 4 expression in MDA-MB-231 breast
cancer cells. This downregulation also occurred at the transcriptional level. Minecoside-mediated
suppression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 expression inhibited CXC ligand 12-induced
invasion of breast and colorectal cancer cells. Overall, our results suggest that
minecoside can be a novel anticancer agent that can inhibit cancer metastasis through
inhibition of CXC chemokine receptor 4 expression.
Key words
Scrophulariaceae -
Veronica peregrina
- minecoside - invasion - CXCR4 - CXCL12 - NF-
κB
